Statement by India on the Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming (Theme: The contribution of universal participation to the mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council) at the 49th Session of HRC (28th February – 1st April 2022) delivered by Mr. Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 28th February, 2022 Statement by India on the Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming (Theme: T..
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Statement by India on the Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming (Theme: The contribution of universal participation to the mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council) at the 49th Session of HRC (28th February – 1st April 2022) delivered by Mr. Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 28th February, 2022

Statement by India on the Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming (Theme: The contribution of universal participation to the mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council) at the 49th Session of HRC (28th February – 1st April 2022) delivered by Mr. Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 28th February, 2022

Mr. President,

We appreciate convening of this Panel and the views shared by eminent Panelists.

  1. India is proud to share excellent diplomatic relations with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as with the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). India strongly believes that it is important to strengthen the capacities of the delegations from LDCs and SIDs, including those which do not have permanent missions in Geneva, to ensure their universal and meaningful participation in the Human Rights Council.
  1. With a view to achieve this goal, we supported the proposal to set up a SIDS/LDCs Trust Fund that has gone a long way in facilitating participation of SIDS/LDCs in proceedings of the Human Rights Council (HRC).
  1. In 2017, in the spirit of South-South cooperation, India has established a US$150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which is aimed at implementing recipient owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational projects aimed at realization of the SDGs in developing countries, LDCs and LLDCs. In 2019, India allocated US$ 12 million grant (US$ 1 million to each PSIDS) towards implementation of high impact developmental project in the area of their choice. At the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, India along with partner countries launched a new initiative called Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS), which is a dedicated initiative co-curated by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) partners to promote resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure development in SIDS.
  1. It is noteworthy, that since it became operational in 2014, the Trust Fund has supported 172 government officials (151 delegates and 21 fellows), including 104 women and 68 men, from 71 of the 72 least developed countries and small island developing States. Today at the 10th Anniversary of the Trust Fund, it is heartening to see that the Trust Fund is having the desired impact on the ground where the deliberations of the HRC have been widened and enriched by the presence of delegates from SIDS/LDCs.
  1. During the pandemic situation, which has placed extraordinary burden on all States, it has become all the more important that technical assistance and capacity building measures undertaken by OHCHR must supplement the efforts of member States towards assisting the LDCs and SIDS.
  1. We have been a regular donor to the Trust Fund and we hope that our contribution will encourage other countries to extend their support to the Fund and contribute thereby to universal participation in work of the HRC.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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