General comments by India during consideration of the Decision on Implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights (L.23), at the 56th Session of Human Rights Council (18 June - 12 July 2024) delivered by Ms. Anupama Singh, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 11 July 2024
Mr. President,
We thank the core group for constructive discussions. The draft resolution under consideration relates to Plastic pollution implications on the full enjoyment of human rights. At this stage, we feel that the scope of this resolution is too broad. Many of the aspects need to be appropriately deliberated at the appropriate forum i.e. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- The subject of the draft resolution is already being discussed in the context to finalize an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The Council, therefore, is not the appropriate forum for discussions on this issue, at this stage. Given the novelty of the topic, it is also important that definitions are concluded in the appropriate forum, i.e. UNEP, where all members countries participate on an equal footing, so that the guardrails are formed before the human rights aspects is discussed.
- While having discussions on such matters, it is also important that concerns of the developing countries are taken onboard, including on the principles of CBDR-RC and Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
- The draft resolution tasks the Council and the Advisory Committee to pursue further studies on this issue. In the current liquidity crisis, it is understood that some of the future meetings of the Advisory Committee have been postponed. To conclude, my delegation shall dissociate from the draft text and request that it be recorded in the report.
I thank you
