Statement by India under Agenda item 3(f) on ‘Women’s representation in HR organs and mechanisms’ during the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (15-19 February, 2021) delivered by

Ms. Seema Pujani, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of India

[Geneva, 16 February 2021]

Thank you, Chair.

At the outset, India would like to thank the drafting group established by the Advisory Committee for its work and efforts for preparation of the report on ‘current levels of representation of women in human rights organs and mechanisms’, as mandated by the Human Rights Council Resolution 41/6.

The Government of India gives utmost priority to end gender based inequities, reduce disparity between men and women, improve the socio-economic status of women and increase their participation in various fields. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution of India. Apart from Constitutionalguarantees and legislative provisions, our developmental policies and programmes accord top priority to women empowerment, especially to their economic and political participation.We have adopted a holistic approach to achieving Sustainable Development Goalsunder the Agenda 2030, including Goal 5 pertaining to gender equality.

We take note of the underrepresentation of women in the UN system, including at the UN human rights bodies and mechanisms, as brought out by the report of the drafting group. We acknowledge the impact of such underrepresentation on the human rights to equality and non-discrimination. The listing of good practices and comparative experiences, identified in this regard, in this report is appreciated.

We have taken note of the detailed recommendations to the Human Rights Council, Member States and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and will examine the same. One of these recommends to the Council to include names and genders of individual members of the HRC along with the Member-State they represent. It is felt that it may impinge on the right to privacy of individual members of the delegation. Certain other recommendations seem to imply a binary nature of gender identity for the purposes of the report. This is also a matter of concern to us and we hope it can be addressed.

Thank you, Chair.