Statement by India under Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (SR’s report on ‘Preserving the gains and pushing back against the global attack on civic space and growing authoritarianism’) at the 56th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (18 June – 12 July 2024), delivered by Ms. Suman Sonkar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 28 June 2024
Mr. Vice- President,
1. We thank Special Rapporteur for presentation of the report.
2. The Indian Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and the right to form associations and unions as a fundamental right. Our judiciary has been a champion of the right to peaceful assembly in our Constitutional system through several judgements.
3. While conscious of its responsibility to maintain law and order and protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, the Government has remained committed to enable the people to enjoy the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. India also continues to prioritize human rights education as an integral part of the induction and in-service trainings imparted to police, security, and judicial service personnel.
Mr. Vice- President,
1. Digital and modern technologies can play an important role in identifying violations and addressing gaps in exercise of these rights. They also have the potential to be used by motivated actors to influence or vitiate peaceful protests.
2. We would request Special Rapporteur for his views on protests that misuse the right to freedom of peaceful assembly by glorifying acts of violence or provoking stigmatization and violence against a person or a group of persons across international borders, leveraging digital media.
I thank you.
