Geneva: The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and the Sikh Federation jointly organized an international conference themed 'Countering Indian Transnational Repression: Sikh Resistance and United Nations,' held on the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the conference marked a notable milestone in bringing the challenges faced by the Sikh community to the international level, particularly on the UN platform. The presence of a representative from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted that the UN system is closely following the issue and that it has attracted significant attention from international human rights bodies.

The conference brought together leading members of the Sikh diaspora from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Switzerland, and other countries, along with human rights advocates and individuals who have directly experienced the repressive and discriminatory policies of the Indian government.

Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG); Moninder Singh Bual, Chairman of the Sikh Federation Canada; Dabinderjit Singh, Lead Executive of the Sikh Federation (UK); Jaswinder Singh, Chairman of 'The Sikh Network' media portal, among others, highlighted the transnational pressure and threats carried out by the Government of India against Sikh activists and diaspora members worldwide, stressing that such cases are steadily increasing. They noted that numerous Sikh activists and members of ethnic minorities have been forced to leave India due to repressive policies and are now continuing their activities in different countries.

Conference participants emphasized that threats and attacks against Sikh leaders, activists, and their families abroad pose serious risks to fundamental rights, urging the international community and human rights organizations to increase pressure on the Indian government.

The conference concluded that the UN should prioritize the Sikh issue and appoint special rapporteurs to document and report rights violations against ethnic and religious groups in India. Participants stressed that stronger international accountability and monitoring would help protect the rights of the Sikh community and other ethnic groups.