Statement by Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Under Agenda Item 67: "Right to Self-Determination" and Agenda Item 68: "Elimination of Racism, Xenophobia & Related Intolerance" in the Third Committee
(02 November 2016)

Madam Chair,

My delegation welcomes the sustained attention accorded by the United Nations to the issue of 'universal realization of the peoples' right to self-determination'.

The right to self-determination is a peremptory norm of international law. It is sanctified in the very foundations of the United Nations, a quintessential aspect of the ideals that this organization espouses - a vision of peace, predicated on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right of self-determination.

The two fundamental covenants on human rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, are both, unequivocal affirmation of this 'inalienable' right of peoples.

The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights deemed 'the denial of the right of self-determination as a violation of human rights'. It stressed the need for its universal implementation.

Madam Chair,

Towards the middle of the last century, as the last vestiges of colonialism succumbed to the yearning for freedom, a life of dignity and freedom became a fulfilling reality for millions of people across the world.

Yet, for countless others, the promise of freedom remained unfulfilled and elusive. For them, the struggle for the universal realization of the right to self-determination did not end with decolonization; it only took a new and tragic turn.

It is anachronistic and unacceptable that even in the 21st century millions of people are coerced to live under foreign occupation and alien domination, and are denied their inalienable right to self-determination.

What is even more reprehensible is that every occupier employs the same narrative and means to justify oppression: conflating freedom struggles with terrorism; using brute force to suppress the legitimate aspiration of peoples to freedom; blaming others - in vain - to cloak its own infamy.

History bears witness that the spirit of a people, determined to decide their fate and destiny cannot be broken by brutal repression. Might does not make right. It never did and never will.

The exercise of the right to self-determination is firmly grounded in the two core principles that: the right must be exercised freely without coercion or repression, and the right does not lapse with the passage of time.

Madam Chair,

In my region, the decades old dispute of Jammu and Kashmir is still waiting to be resolved in accordance with these fundamental and universal principles.

A number of UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir clearly provided that "the future status of Jammu and Kashmir would be decided through the democratic means of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations".

But the people of Kashmir have waited nearly 70 years for implementation of these resolutions. Today, a new generation of Kashmiris has risen to demand freedom from India's illegal occupation. This uprising is led mainly by Kashmiri youth, armed with nothing more than a hunger of freedom in their hearts and a belief in the righteousness of their cause. Day after day they brave bullets and curfews to press their right to self-determination.

Their struggle for liberation from illegal occupation is a legitimate struggle. Under international law and according to declarations of the United Nations on Self Determination, the Kashmiris have the right to struggle for their right to self-determination "by all means at their disposal". And, they have the right to receive moral and political support from the international community.

Pakistan remains committed to a just solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Fulfillment of the long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people is thus urgent as well as vital to establishing lasting peace in our region.

Madam Chair,

Pakistan rejects racism, xenophobia and intolerance. They are against the dignity and equality of humankind, and have no place in any religion and culture.

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action provide an effective platform to comprehensively tackle racism, xenophobia and related discrimination. The UN Declaration of 2011 reinforced this message.

Discrimination on the basis of religion is a contemporary form of racism. Faith-based discrimination, stereotyping people on the grounds of belief, inciting violence by hate speech and defamation of religions are all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In fact they can exacerbate the current threats to global peace and security.

Pakistan has played an important role in the promotion of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. My country will continue to lend it support to all international initiatives aimed at promoting greater understanding and mutual respect among all the world's religions and civilizations. We urge all those who believe in humanity's common future, to help in evolving a consensus for action to combat the forces of xenophobia, prejudice, hatred and racism.

I thank you.