Sindh has been a member of the UNPO since 2002. 

The Sindhi people are distinct because of their ancient cultural heritage, rooted in the Indus Valley Civilization, with a rich tradition of Sufi poetry, music, and spiritual practices that emphasize tolerance and pluralism. 

he Sindhi people are systematically denied their political rights, with their demands for greater autonomy and control over local resources largely ignored. The Sindh community has also experienced enforced disappearances and forced conversions as an ongoing critical concern. The Sindhi language and culture are also under threat due to government policies that prioritize other ethnic groups. 

The UNPO secretariat works for the rights of the Sindh people as a whole and might work with different civil society organizations, groups and representatives from the Sindh community. However, the main organization representing the rights of the Sindh within the UNPO membership and with voting rights at the General Assembly is the World Sindhi Congress (WSC). You can read more about the World Sindhi Congress here. 

The Sindhi people, indigenous to the Sindh region of present-day Pakistan, have a deep cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. The Sindhi language is central to their identity, serving as a unifying force among the region’s diverse communities. Sindhi culture is rich in poetry, music, and literature, with Sufi mysticism greatly influencing their spiritual and cultural life. 

Sindh, one of the world’s oldest centers of civilization, has a history that stretches back thousands of years. The region has witnessed the rise and fall of many empires, including the Mauryan, Gupta, and Kushan dynasties, each adding to its rich cultural heritage. Sindh was a major center of Islamic learning and trade during the medieval period under Arab and Turkic rule. However, the region also experienced significant periods of conquest and conflict, including invasions by Persian, Afghan, and Mughal rulers, culminating in British colonial rule in the 19th century.

Post-independence, Sindh became part of Pakistan. Since then, the region has faced systematic marginalization by the centralized Pakistani government. The Sindhi people’s struggles for cultural preservation, political representation, and economic rights continue in the face of policies that often prioritize other regions and ethnicities over Sindh.

The Sindhi people currently face widespread human rights violations and socio-economic challenges. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and religious persecution are rampant in Sindh, primarily targeting ethnic Sindhis and religious minorities. Over 14,000 people remain missing across Pakistan, many from Sindh, as a result of the government’s repressive policies, including the use of enforced disappearances to stifle dissent.

Religious intolerance has intensified, with the proliferation of madrassas promoting extremist views against non-Muslims and minority Muslim sects. Hindu girls are particularly vulnerable, frequently subjected to abduction and forced conversion, a practice that continues persistent despite international condemnation.

Environmental degradation further compounds the hardships faced by the Sindhi people. Rising sea levels and man-made changes in the region’s climate have led to frequent flooding, soil salinity, and the destruction of agricultural lands, severely impacting the livelihoods of the local population. Additionally, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has brought heavy industrialization and pollution, with little regard for the environmental or social impact on the Sindhi people. The construction of coal power plants and other infrastructure projects under CPEC has led to further displacement and environmental harm, exacerbating poverty and social unrest in the region.

The Sindhi people’s unique cultural heritage and identity highlight their right to self-determination, political representation, and control over their natural resources. Respecting this right would give the people of Sindh greater control to address human rights issues, protect the environment, and promote fairer socio-economic development. At the moment they are unable to do so give the lack of representation and equal participation in the decision-making sphere. Respecting the right to self-determination and obtaining the support of the international community would also allow local companies to be held accountable for their actions regarding human rights of Sindhi people and degradation of the natural environment.