General Statement by India during the consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/Res/L.19 as orally revised, titled 'Human Rights and the Environment', March 26, 2015 General Statement by India during the consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/Res/L.19 as orally..

General Statement by India during the consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/Res/L.19 as orally revised, titled 'Human Rights and the Environment', March 26, 2015

28th Session of the Human Rights Council

(March 2-27, 2015)

Decisions and Conclusions

(March 26, 2015)

General Statement on the draft resolution A/HRC/Res/L19 as orally revised titled ‘Human Rights and the Environment’

 

Thank you Mr. President,

1. My delegation has the honor to deliver this general statement on the draft resolution A/HRC/Res/L19 as orally revised titled ‘Human Rights and the Environment’ on behalf of the like-minded group of countries, namely Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, China, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Venezuela.

 

2. We thank the main sponsors of the resolution for their open and constructive engagement and their earnest efforts to reach consensus on this important subject.

 

3. The resolution under consideration intends to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. While doing so it also seeks to change the nomenclature of the mandate holder from an Independent Expert to a Special Rapporteur. However, the reasons put forward by the sponsors for this change are at best ambiguous and need a shared understanding. It is clear from the IB package that there is no distinction between an Independent Expert and a Special Rapporteur, either in substantive or procedural terms. Any attempt, therefore, to create an artificial hierarchy of positions among the various Special Procedure Mechanisms could potentially undermine the importance attached to different mandates and their work and goes against the spirit of the IB package.

 

Mr. President,

4. The promotion of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development are intricately linked with each other. While we support the extension of the mandate of the Special Procedure by three years, we believe that any thematic deliberation on human rights and complex environmental issues should not only be consistent with the agreed principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities but also uphold the right to development.

 

5. It is subject to the above considerations that we join the consensus on this resolution. We request the Secretariat to reflect this statement in the official records of this Council.

 

Thank you.

 

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