General comments by India on consideration of the resolution on 'Technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands' 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
(7 October, 2022)
Thank you, Mr. President.
At the outset, we thank the core group for its constructive engagement and the flexibility that it has shown to address different concerns, including ours, throughout the negotiating process. The written revisions tabled earlier this week have introduced balance in the text.
The issues arising from the nuclear testing in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including its impact on the enjoyment of human rights by the people, are complex and grave.
We appreciate the initiative of the core group to request technical assistance and capacity building for the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to support its efforts to address these issues without politicising the same.
However, India continues to believe that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights does not have the requisite expertise to address the operative paragraphs of this resolution that pertain to serious cross cutting nuclear, environmental and health matters. One such paragraph deals with the provision for technical assistance and capacity building to the National Nuclear Commission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in advancing its national strategy for nuclear justice and in determining its technical assistance and capacity building needs to pursue transitional justice in its efforts to address the nuclear legacy.
Our concerns notwithstanding, given the gravity of the matter and the request for technical assistance and capacity building by the core group of Pacific Islands Forum countries under agenda item 10, we support the consensus on this resolution.
I thank you.
