Statement by India under Agenda Item 4 : General debate ‘Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention’ at the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council (9 September-11 October 2024) delivered by Mr. Gaurav Kumar Thakur, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 24 September 2024
Mr. President,
It has been India’s consistent and unwavering position that the Human Rights Council needs to function with universality, objectivity and non-selectivity in its consideration of human rights issues, and the discourse in the Human Rights Council should not be politicized and polarized.
2. In this context, 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 and have only led to accusations of double standards and politicization.
3. Such exercises, with a selective focus on human rights situations in a few countries take away attention from critical and pressing challenges that the entire world continues to grapple with.
4. 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. President,
5. As the world confronts myriad conflicts, terrorism, backsliding on sustainable development goals, and adverse impact of climate change, it is all the more important for the Council to work towards a more focused, non-politicized approach that strives for consensus.
6. In the recent past, we have seen several mandates passed by council resolutions without a vote being postponed in the name of liquidity crisis, while the country specific mandates continue to occupy major fiscal allocations. We hope that the Council, in its deliberations, will support the mandates that have been passed by one voice over those where we have seen divisions and work constructively towards the protection and promotion of human rights.
Thank you.
