Statement by India at Virtual Organizational Meeting in relation to the 44th regular session of the HRC, delivered by Ambassador Rajiv K. Chander, Permanent Representative of India (Friday, 12 June 2020, Geneva)
Madam President
At the outset I would like to express my heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of our dear colleague from Uganda. Our deepest sympathies to his family and near ones.
Madam President
- We thank youfor the clarification on holding of this Organizational Meeting that the date for opening of the forty-fourth session is provisional and subject to change depending on the ongoing consultations.
Madam President,
- India would be joining as a member of the core group for the resolution on Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. The resolution seeks to extend the mandate of the SR for another three years.
Madam President,
- We are of the view that the SR needs to continue creatingmore awareness on human rights issues related to leprosy in the context of leaving no one behind. The extension of the mandate would also provide an opportunity to engage those countries including mine that have already accepted visit requests from the SR which could not take place due to the ongoing extraordinary circumstances the world over.
Madam President,
- Finally, we would be looking forward to detailed information about the modalities to enable equal participationby all in the 44th HRC session.
Thank you, Madam President.
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