ISLAMABAD: As the world marks Human Rights Day on Saturday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on the world to raise its voice for the oppressed people in the disputed Kashmir territory and Palestine.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being — regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin.

Pakistan has frequently urged the world to take notice of human rights violations committed by occupying Israeli forces in Palestine’s West Bank and Gaza Strip areas. Islamabad has also urged the world to rein in Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, which India and Pakistan both claim in full but administer only parts of the territory.

“Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that brutal violations of human rights in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and Palestine are continuing unabatedly and the international community needs to raise its voice against it,” a press release by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said.

The foreign minister called on the world to focus more attention on the “grave trampling” of human rights by occupying forces in these territories. The foreign minister said Pakistan’s commitment to human rights is unshakable and every effort will be made to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of every citizen.

Pakistan has fought two out of three wars against India in Kashmir and has aggressively demanded a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir. Pakistan also happens to be one of the countries that do not recognize Israel and frequently criticizes Tel Aviv for human rights violations.