PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA TO THE UN GENEVA

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

27TH SESSION (8-26 September 2014)

Agenda Item 4 General Debate:  Human right situation that requires the Council’s attention

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1. The UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 that established the Human Rights Council has defined one of key principles on which the new Council should work would be constructive international dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights. This was reaffirmed and supplemented in GA Resolution 65/281on the Review of the Human Rights Council.

2. As we draw closer to a decade in the life of the Human Rights Council, we must remain mindful of the reasons for its creation. There is need for conscious effort on all members of the Council not to repeat the shortcomings of its predecessor in ensuring that the objectives and nature of the Council are well in sync with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that reaffirmed “faith in fundamental human rights”, and “to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained”. These ideals and objectives are only attainable, as provided by the UN Charter itself, through international cooperation in solving international problems within a framework of friendly relations amongst states.

3. We believe that the Council must rise above political interests and machinations and squarely face the human rights challenges of our times which arise from the actions of non-State actors as well. The international community, therefore, should support the strengthening of national capacities in addressing human rights challenges. This should be done with the proper consultation and dialogue with the States concerned and conducted without conditions attached.

Mr. President,

4. The collaboration of all States in the spirit of equal and mutually respectful dialogue in conducting the work of the Council will contribute to the improvement of human rights situations on the ground. It will strengthen the confidence of States in the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms and enhance the credibility and moral authority of this Council.

5. We should avoid double standards and selectivity and must deal with similar situations in a similar fashion. The practice of selectively highlighting country situations and finger pointing has never proved to be productive. It will only harden the stance of countries and make them more defensive and drive them away further from the Council. Resolutions by the Council that have been adopted in confrontational manner have not served their intended purpose.

6. We should therefore endeavour to bear in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter which can only be achieved within the framework of friendly relations amongst States that are equal and that follow constructive and respectful dialogue. Dialogue and cooperation itself is an incentive for the States to increase their interaction within the UN human rights mechanism.

7. India strongly believes that the advancement and realisation of human rights can be achieved only through the cooperation and full participation of the concerned States. It is therefore paramount that this should be done in an atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation.

I thank you, Mr .President.

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