Human Rights Council - 28th Session

(March 2-27, 2015)

Agenda Item 1: General Segment of the High-Level Segment

 (5 March 2015)

STATEMENT BY INDIA

Thank you Mr. President,

At the outset, my delegation wishes to formally congratulate you (Ambassador Joachim Rucker) on assuming the Presidency of the Human Rights Council for the year 2015. We look forward to work with you closely, and assure you our full support during the year.

Mr. President,

2. We deeply value the role of this Council in promoting universal protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and remain committed to its mandate, as the subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly. We thank all those Member States who supported us overwhelmingly and re-elected us to the Council for the term 2015-17.

3. We commend the High Commissioner for setting the tone of the High Level Segment through his opening statement by pointing that the only real measure of a Government’s worth is not its place in the solemn ballet of grand diplomacy. It is the extent to which it is sensitive to the needs – and protects the rights of the people and other nationals under its jurisdiction. It is truly a profound message.

4. India’s commitment to rule of law, democracy and human rights is as old as our nation itself. As the world’s largest democracy, with a proud history of unity in diversity, strong constitutional safeguards for fundamental freedoms, a progressive parliament, an independent and impartial judiciary, a free and vibrant media and a thriving civil society, India is wedded to the idea of just and equitable society. It is strongly committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all.

5. With the Government of India’s motto “sabka saath, sabka vikas’ meaning “together with all and development for all”, the foremost priority is to ensure rapid, sustainable and inclusive development to achieve full realization of all human rights for all its citizens.

6. Towards this end, whether it is the paradigm shift through the Jhan Dhan Yojana or nationalfinancial inclusion plan that has for the first time brought nearly 125 million people into financial mainstream within a short span of 100 days; the transformative Swachh Bharat or ‘Clean India’ movement that aims to promote hygiene as well as healthcare for all; or the ambitious schemes announced in the national budget last week to create a social security and health insurance systems for all Indians, especially the poor and under-privileged; together with enhanced allocations under the National Food Security Act of 2013 that makes the right to food a justiciable right; the revolutionary Digital India that seeks to reform government systems, eliminate waste, increase access and empower citizens;  our new policies and programmes are rooted in human rights standards and lay special emphasis on the poor and marginalized, including women and children.

Mr. President,

7. For addressing the many global challenges to human rights, we strongly believe that there is no alternative to dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect among States. In our human rights discourse, universality of rights should not be construed as uniformity of values and systems, exclusion and exclusivism cannot be the answer to extremism, and collective measures cannot take the form of coercive and intrusive steps.  Today, more than ever, we need individuals and States that are less moralizing and more moral in their own acts and deeds, societies that can celebrate diversity and pluralism of views and perspectives and institutions that can acknowledge and appreciate the multiple dimensions of human rights.

8. In this context, we recognize that there can be no freedom from fear without freedom from want. Neither can be realized without an enabling environment for freedom to aspire. A holistic and integrated approach that recognizes the inter-dependence, inter-relatedness and indivisibility of all human rights including the right to development should be at the centre of our collective efforts in promoting and protecting human rights. The future we want and the future we deserve can become a reality only if we uphold the inalienable right of every person to development and create an equitable and just international order for its full realization.

Mr. President,

9. The Human Rights Council has made significant contributions in strengthening and expanding the normative foundations for advancement of human rights globally. The Council continues to respond to a wide range of important human rights challenges, establishing new mandates and extending technical assistance to countries, upon their request, to enhance their capacities in the field of human rights.

10. However, as many Member States have noted, this success has come with its own set of challenges. There is a widely felt need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council’s work, streamlining its working methods, attaching greater focus on follow up and implementation and matching its outcomes with mobilisation of adequate resources. Any such exercise, however, should be consensus driven, conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner, within the agreed framework of the IB package.

11. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, we must also remain mindful of the reasons for its creation and avoid repeating mistakes of the past. This Council should respect the right of each State to organize and manage its affairs including in the field of human rights and guard against falling in the trap of selective country spotlighting and intrusive monitoring, which we have seen time and again to be counterproductive. The need of the hour is to consciously ensure that the Council continues to function in a non-selective, non-politicized, non-confrontational and transparent manner while avoiding double standards.

12. We need to learn from the success of the UPR process and strive to advance cooperative methods for the promotion and protection of human rights that uphold the principles of universality, transparency, impartiality, objectivity and constructive dialogue.

13. India remains deeply committed to furthering human rights mechanisms at the local, regional and international levels and stands ready to contribute constructively to this Council’s efforts to foster a culture of respect for protection of human rights globally.

Thank you Mr. President.

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