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Joint Statement by India on behalf of the Like-Minded Group countries in the General Debate under Ag..

Joint Statement by India on behalf of the Like-Minded Group countries in the General Debate under Agenda Item 3 at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council (28 February – 01 April 2022) delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 16 March 2022)

Joint Statement by India on behalf of the Like-Minded Group countries in the General Debate under Agenda Item 3 at the 49^th session of the Human Rights Council (28 February – 01 April 2022) delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 16 March 2022)

Madam Vice-President,

India has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 29 LMG countries.

2. The COVID-19 pandemic, now in its third year, has posed unprecedented challenges to the promotion and protection of human rights globally. In our recovery efforts, we are committed to ‘leaving no one behind’.

3. We reiterate the importance of ensuring universality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues by the Human Rights Council, and the elimination of double standards and politicization, in line with GA resolution 60/251 that established the Council. We urge for renewed emphasis on the work of the Council to be guided by constructive international dialogue and cooperation with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner.

4. The Council must place greater emphasis on promoting human rights education and learning as well as providing advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building, in consultation with and with the consent of concerned States. It should serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights.

5. The human rights agenda, including the Council’s contribution towards prevention of human rights violations, must be pursued in a fair manner with due respect for the principles of UN Charter such as national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs of States. Selective focus of the Council on certain human rights issues and situations runs counterproductive to its mandate of global promotion and protection of all human rights.

6. We are of the view that the proliferation of country-specific initiatives that do not enjoy the support of the concerned countries is not conducive to improving the human rights situation on the ground. Only with a spirit of consensus building can real progress be made in the Council to address human rights issues of universal concern.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

List of countries that supported the above statement is as under (as of now):