Statement by India at the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (8 - 12 August 2022) under Item 2 (e) on ‘Advancement of Racial Justice and Equality’ delivered by Mr. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India

[Geneva, 10 August 2022]

Thank you, Chair,

We welcome the study undertaken by the Advisory Committee on ‘Advancement of Racial Justice and Equality’, pursuant to the mandate of HRC resolution 48/18.

 2.  India is a diverse, multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society based on equality and respect. As a country that was under colonial rule for nearly two centuries, India is aware of the detrimental impact of racism and racial discrimination.

 3.  To safeguard against occurrence of such abhorrent practices, Constitution of India upholds the principle of equality and expressly prohibits discrimination on account of race. It is regrettable that the international community is still witnessing intensified forms of racial inequality.

 4.  We firmly believe that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) continue to provide a comprehensive framework for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their contemporary manifestations.

 5.  In an interconnected world, social media has emerged as a platform for amplifying racial hatred and discriminatory ideas what are otherwise fringe opinions. This trend, if unchecked, can harm the social cohesion. States must intensify efforts to prevent and combat racial hatred and discrimination, taking into consideration the need to strike a balance between safeguarding freedom of expression as against advocacy of hatred leading to racial discrimination and violence. Partnerships with private sector and civil society are critical to address this issue.

 6.  In conclusion, we express our firm support to the work of the Advisory Committee and look forward to benefit from its study on Advancement of Racial Justice and Equality.

I thank you Chair.

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