Geneva: At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sai Sampath Mettu, CEO of The ECO FAWN Society, called on the international community to take decisive action against religious intolerance and extremist violence, highlighting recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking during General Debate IX on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance, Mettu strongly condemned the recent terrorist strike in Pahalgam, where civilians and tourists were specifically targeted because of their faith and gender. He described the attack as “a grave violation of fundamental rights, including the right to life, freedom of movement, and freedom of religion.”
Mettu stressed that such incidents are neither random nor isolated. He said they form part of “systematic campaigns of fear, backed by extremist propaganda, state sponsorship, and deliberate impunity,” and warned that unchecked religiously motivated violence threatens peace, security, and communal harmony.
Invoking the principles of the Durban Declaration, he urged the UNHRC and member states to confront intolerance with urgency and determination. “The silence of the world in the face of hatred only emboldens its perpetrators. There can be no lasting peace without justice, and no justice without dismantling the machinery of hate,” he asserted.
The ECO FAWN Society presented a three-point appeal to the global community: strengthen mechanisms to counter extremist ideologies and terror financing, hold accountable those who enable or sponsor such violence, and promote interfaith dialogue alongside international cooperation to foster peaceful coexistence.
Reaffirming its commitment to human rights, peacebuilding, and environmental justice, the organization emphasized that its work aligns with the broader objectives of the United Nations. This intervention underscores its ongoing efforts to ensure intolerance and extremism are addressed through collective global resolve.
