Statement by India under General Debate, Agenda Item 10: Technical assistance and capacity-building at the 48th Session of Human Rights Council (13 September – 08 October 2021) delivered by Mr. Puneet Agrawal,Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative,

Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 07 October 2021)

Madam President,

We thank the Secretary General and the High Commissioner for their reports presented to the Council today. We also welcome High Commissioner’s oral update on the progress in technical cooperation and capacity-building for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.   

The Philippines-United Nations Joint Program for Human Rights is a good example of how constructive cooperation between the UN and States can further the goal of global promotion and protection of human rights. India was one of the co-sponsors of the HRC Resolution 45/33. We hope this fruitful partnership and the sincere efforts on the part of the Government of Philippines and the concerned UN agencies will continue to lead to a positive impact on the ground.

Madam President,

We believe that the Council should give priority to provision of technical assistance and capacity building, in consultation with, and with the consent of, the concerned States for the improvement of human rights situation on the ground. An approach informed by genuine dialogue, consultation and consensus-building must be followed with due respect for principles of non-interference in internal affairs of States and their national sovereignty.

The human rights agenda has suffered unprecedented setbacks due to Covid-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever before, the technical cooperation, provided by the Council, has become essential in assisting the States in building back better. In this regard, we appreciate and support the efforts of OHCHR. We recently made our annual voluntary contribution of USD 400,000 to OHCHR’s Voluntary Funds, including for technical cooperation and assistance.

Madam President,

Capacity building and technical assistance are important strands of India's development partnership programme, a pillar of our foreign policy.  Our Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, covers over 160 partner countries from Asia, Africa, East Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean as well as Pacific and Small Island countries. It has contributed significantly to South-South cooperation.

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to ensure equitable and affordable access to vaccines. Since January 2021, more than 66 million doses of quality ‘Made in India’ vaccines have been supplied to 95 countries around the world, and we will shortly resume exports of these safe and effective vaccines.

I thank you, Madam President.