Statement by India under Agenda Item 4 : General debate ‘Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention’ at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council (26 February – 5 April 2024) delivered by Mr. Kshitij Tyagi, First Secretary, Geneva, 20 March 2024
Mr. Vice President,
It has been our consistent and unwavering position that the discourse in the Human Rights Council should not be politicized and polarized; and that the Council needs to function in a constructive, non-confrontational, and objective manner. In this context, we feel that with the continued proliferation of country-specific mandates, the deliberations of the Council under this Agenda item have not been conducive to the realization of its intended goals, which are the protection and promotion of human rights for all.
- Such exercises, with a selective focus on human rights situations in a few countries, not only take away from the valuable time of the Council but also cause great harm, by taking the focus away from critical and pressing challenges that the world continues to grapple with - challenges to all human rights including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the right to development.
- We emphasize the need for the Council to create a conducive environment for a fair and balanced discourse. We believe that the enhancement of States’ capacities in consultation with and with the consent of the States concerned, is the best way to improve the human rights situation. In this regard, priority should be accorded to implementation of accepted UPR recommendations.
Mr. Vice President,
- As the world struggles with myriad crises such as conflict, terrorism, lack of sustainable development, and climate change, it is all the more important for the Council to work towards a more focused, non-politicized approach that strives for consensus. Furthermore, we often hear terms such as fairness, objectivity, impartiality, and equity in the Council. We hope that the Council, in its deliberations, will support these words with action, and work constructively towards the protection and promotion of human rights.
Thank you.
