Statement by India on behalf of LMG countries in the General Debate under Agenda Item 6 at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council (12 September - 7 October 2022) delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary,
Permanent Mission of India, Geneva
30 September 2022
Mr. President,
India has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Like-Minded Group of countries. The list of supporting States will be updated on HRC Extranet.
The Human Rights Council is entrusted by GA resolution 60/251 with the mandate to undertake the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a unique peer-to-peer review of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments based on objective and reliable information in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States.
We are of the view that over the last 15 years, the UPR has emerged as the most successful mechanism of the Council, achieving the objectives that it set out to. The review has been conducted in a cooperative and interactive manner with the full involvement of the concerned State. It has led to improvement of the human rights situation on the ground; sharing of best practices; provision of technical assistance and capacity-building in consultation with, and with the consent of the concerned States; and enhanced cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights.
The present process and modalities of the UPR enjoy universal support. They ensure active participation of all relevant stakeholders and accord due consideration to the concerned State in the outcome of the review, especially in its implementation. We appreciate the facilitative role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the review process. The UPR must continue to be an intergovernmental process, UN Member-driven and action-oriented, conducted in an objective, transparent, non-selective, constructive, non-confrontational and non-politicized manner. It must also continue to duly take into account the level of development and specificities of countries. We are not in favour of any attempt to tinker with its format.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented setbacks to the human rights agenda, especially in the developing countries. There is serious need to enhance States’ capacity and provide technical assistance, in consultation with, and with the consent of the concerned State, especially for better implementation of the outcome of the review. Adequate resources must be allocated to the UPR Voluntary Trust Fund and the UN Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the UPR to enable them to support the States throughout the review process. While considering such capacity-building and technical assistance measures, the recommendations that enjoy the support of the concerned State must be focussed upon. This would further strengthen the mechanism and lead to the desired impact on the ground.
I thank you.
List of countries that supported the above statement is as under:
1. Singapore
2. Malaysia
3. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
4. South Sudan
5. Viet Nam
6. Egypt
7 .Philippines
8. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
9. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
10. United Arab Emirates
11. Yemen
12. Bangladesh
13. Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
14. Saudi Arabia
15. Cambodia
16. Thailand
17. South Africa
18. Nepal
19. Sri Lanka
20. Indonesia
21. Ethiopia
22. India
