Geneva, Switzerland — During the 60th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (running September 8 to October 8, 2025), a high-profile side event in Geneva spotlighted growing international alarm over rights violations in South Asia—especially in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
European Parliament members, human rights activists, and political figures pressed both governments to stem persecution of religious minorities and bolster protections for women.
A personal plea from Bangladesh’s former confidant
A striking voice at the event was Erik Selle, leader of Norway’s Christian Conservative Party, who has deep personal connections to Bangladesh. Having spent part of his life working there, especially on women’s empowerment projects in rural communities, he spoke with urgency about what he described as a rapid deterioration in religious freedoms.
Selle lamented, “I grew up in Bangladesh, I love that country, but I am devastated and heartbroken by what has happened in the last year. There is also a geopolitical aspect in Bangladesh with the caretaker government now, but my plea to Mohammad Yunus is to get control of the country and protect it from extremists.”
He warned that religious minorities—Hindus and Christians among them—are facing renewed pressures. At the same time, he drew attention to the plight of women in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, accusing the United Nations of failing to issue adequate responses.
Solidarity voices and broader concerns
The event was organized by International Support for Human Rights in collaboration with Italia Che Cambia. Among the speakers: MEP Anna Maria Cisint, Fabia Cestelli of Italia Che Cambia, and other senators and activists.
Cisint described the conditions confronting women and girls as “very difficult.” She also raised the issue of migrant women from Bangladesh and Pakistan residing in Italy, claiming many face repression and coercion to don the burqa against their will.
Several participants called for the global community to put direct pressure on Dhaka and Islamabad, demanding accountability for abuses and stronger legal protections for persecuted groups.
Political context in Bangladesh and Pakistan
The criticisms come during a turbulent period in both countries. In Bangladesh, following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has headed an interim government.
Observers have accused this transition of weakening institutional checks and enabling Islamist elements to gain more influence.
In Pakistan, persistent allegations of enforced disappearances, suppression of dissent in Balochistan, and gender-based violence have long attracted international concern. Critics say that systemic weaknesses in the rule of law and weak enforcement mechanisms have allowed abuses to proliferate.
Challenges to international instruments
While appeals at the UN stage carry symbolic weight, speakers at the Geneva event lamented that international treaties and bodies have so far struggled to hold states like Bangladesh and Pakistan to account.
They called for more effective mechanisms—such as independent monitoring, sanctions, and judicial actions—to protect vulnerable communities.
What lies ahead
No immediate corrective measures were announced at the event itself, but its participants hope the spotlight will galvanize diplomatic pressure.
For Bangladesh, the question is whether the interim government will heed these calls and take proactive steps to safeguard religious minorities and rein in extremism.
In Pakistan, activists will be watching to see whether renewed scrutiny leads to real reforms, especially in conflict-affected provinces like Balochistan.
