Statement by India at the Second Intersessional meeting for dialogue and cooperation on Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda: Decade of Action and Delivery on the SDGs] delivered by Sh. Animesh Choudhury, First Secretary on the 03^rd of December 2019 in Palais des Nations, Geneva.

“Leave no One Behind”: How promoting and protecting human rights can accelerate the realization of the SDGs.

Thank You Mr. Chair,

At the outset, India would to thank the distinguished panellists for their insightful presentations.

Mr. Chair,

2. While we embark on the next decade crucial to the fulfilment of the targets envisaged in the Sustainable Development Goals, the importance of the human rights pillar of the United Nations assumes greater significance.

3. The focus of this year’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on empowerment, inclusiveness and equality was timely and pertinent. However the Political Declaration of the Forum which calls for urgent accelerated action at all levels and by all stakeholders to achieve the SDGs by 2030 does send us a message that all is not well. It is a matter of concern that mobilizing sufficient financing remains a major challenge in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Inequalities continue to grow, the risks arising from climate change are rising every passing day, the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings in new challenges and the international financing mechanisms still remain underfunded and loosely coordinated. Hence there is a need for a deeper, integrated and transformative response to counter these issues giving due recognition to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Mr. Chair,

4. In this context, India believes that the Right to Development can provide a balanced, comprehensive and enabling framework to strengthen the global partnership to achieve the SDGs in a sustainable manner while promoting all human rights for all. We do agree that the process of development needs to be nationally owned and driven by national needs and priorities. However, what it needs to be complemented by is equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level. It is high time that we recognise the Right to Development as a primary enabling right that provides a normative basis for the realisation of all other rights.

Thank You.