Statement by India during Inter-sessional meeting on “Technical cooperation and capacity building in the Human Rights Council: taking stock of the past for a better discharge of this mission in the future,” delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Geneva, 20 April 2023
Madam Chair,
We welcome the organization of this intersessional meeting and thank the panelists for their useful insights.
India attaches great importance to the Council’s provision for technical assistance and capacity building. We strongly believe that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights lies with the States. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the Council’s measures for technical assistance and capacity building, in consultation with and with the consent of the concerned States, for improving the human rights situation on the ground. We appreciate and support the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to this end. We have been contributing to the Voluntary Funds for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights and for Financial and Technical Assistance in the Implementation of the UPR as well as 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. Therefore, we also co-sponsored the resolution 51/34.
Madam Chair,
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. It is, thus, a befitting occasion to reflect on the Council's work under Agenda Item 10, including achievements, best practices and challenges faced.
We are of the view that the sanctity of this dedicated Agenda Item should be maintained and its misuse, under any pretext, must be avoided. Else, we run the risk of its politicisation. We have also noted that in the recent past, complex, cross-cutting and grave issues have been considered by the Council with specific requests for technical assistance and capacity building by the OHCHR that may not have the requisite expertise for the same. It is imperative that we remain mindful of the mandate given to this Council as well as accord due respect to the work undertaken by other specialised bodies under the UN system.
I thank you.
