Statement by India at the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council (25 February – 22 March 2019) under Agenda Item 10: HC Presentation on Technical Cooperation and Report of Board of Trustees, delivered by Dr. A. Sudhakara Reddy, Counsellor (Legal). [21 March 2019, Geneva]

Mr. Vice President,

      We thank the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation for their presentations today. We appreciate and support the efforts of OHCHR in extending capacity building and technical assistance to needy states for effective implementation of human rights.

2. My delegation reiterates its continued support for having a dedicated agenda item on technical assistance and capacity building which reflects the special place that the Council has in this area. The Council and its mechanisms, should focus on enabling Member States develop the respective national institutions and capacities through rendering appropriate technical assistance. While doing so, the primacy of State’s role and participation should be fully respected, as envisaged in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDAP).

3. In our view, extending technical assistance and capacity building is crucial to achieve the ambitious goals of the 2030 Agenda for many developing countries and also to implement the accepted recommendations under the UPR mechanism. Regrettably, as the report mentioned, the level of resources, both of personnel and funding, available for technical cooperation and advisory services remains very modest and therefore, imperative that the resources available are used to best effect.

4. Further, my delegations suggests that for making technical cooperation more effective, regular monitoring and evaluation of the results achieved becomes critical, taking into consideration a thorough assessment and analysis of the technical capacities that States have at their disposal. Such assessments should guide OHCHR efforts in streamlining its cooperation programmes and would help in optimal utilization of available resources.

5. In conclusion, Mr. Vice President, we call upon all States to give priority to Agenda Item 10 so as to have a defined platform that would facilitate an exchange of non-political views regarding the role of Council in promoting and protecting human rights on the ground.

I thank you.