75th Session of the UN General Assembly 

Third Committee General Debate 

INDIA STATEMENT
By
Mr Ashish Sharma, First Secretary 

5 October 2020 

Thank you, Madam Chair 

At the outset, let me join my fellow delegates in congratulating you on your election. We extend full support to the work of the Committee under your able leadership and wish you all the success. 

My delegation aligns with the statements made by Guyana on behalf of the G77 and China and by Azerbaijan on behalf of the NAM. 

Madam Chair 

The COVID 19 pandemic has changed our world. It has highlighted the need for closer cooperation between the members of the world community to fight the pandemic and prosper in the post-COVID world. 

Madam Chair 

India’s pursuit for an economically, socially and digitally inclusive society is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideology of uplifting of the weakest person in the society for development of all, and in respecting the nature. 

India is actively implementing specific schemes and programmes to achieve the Sustainable Developmental Goals. Financial inclusion, universal health coverage, affordable housing and generation of decent employment opportunities for all are at the heart of our inclusive developmental strategy, with special consideration for women, older persons, youth and persons with disabilities. Empowering people through use of innovative technology has been the driving force behind India’s transformative initiatives. Sustained economic development and pro-reform initiatives in India has over the last 10 years lifted 270 million people out of multi-dimensional poverty. 

Madam Chair 

Strengthening international cooperation is necessary to tackle emerging challenges for effective realization of rights of the child. The Constitution of India has extensive provisions for promoting the rights of the child and for enabling their development and welfare. India remains committed to work with the international community to strengthen children rights. 

Madam Chair 

Gender equality and empowerment of women is an integral part of India’s inclusive development strategy. We have moved from a paradigm of women’s development to women-led development. We are implementing a series of flagship programmes that focus on significantly expanding women’s financial inclusion, employment and self- employment opportunities, healthcare and nutrition, safety and security, and education. 

Madam Chair 

The principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document in the history of human rights, have been enshrined in the Constitution of India, as fundamental rights, to provide effective guarantees for protection and promotion of human rights. 

While we remain continuously engaged in promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, we need an honest appraisal of whether the international community has managed to achieve genuine improvement in human rights, by undertaking aggressive and overly intrusive methods without consultation and consent of the country concerned. 

We have following observations regarding the international human rights framework: 

1. Right to Development remains important and its operationalization needs to be prioritized. 
2. We should avoid turning Universal Periodic Review into a platform for pushing selective human rights issues. 
3. We need to envision human rights protection measures for the digital age and, most importantly how to counter misuse of these technologies that lead to human rights abuses.

Madam Chair 

The Human Rights Council over last fourteen years has strengthened consensus on a wide range of thematic issues. The strength of the Council lies in its emphasis on dialogue, cooperation, transparency and non-selectivity in the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone. 

The Special Procedures are an important mechanism of this Council for fostering genuine dialogue for strengthening the capacity of member states. It is also important that the mandate holders remain truly independent, impartial and carry out their tasks with responsibility and sensitivity in accordance with their mandates. 

Madam Chair 

India is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society based on principles of peaceful coexistence and tolerance. Our Constitution upholds the principle of equality and expressly prohibits discrimination on account of race. 

Countries should not use the bogey of ideology or religion to tarnish other countries with pluralistic and democratic structures where there is wide spectrum of views and opinions. 

As a former colony, India has always been in the forefront at the United Nations in supporting the right of people to self-determination. We firmly believe that the UN has established that the principle of self-determination is a vehicle for decolonization, and it cannot be abused and misrepresented with the aim of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a Member State. 

Madam Chair 

Despite international legal measures and framework for international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, transnational organized crimes and drug problem continue to pose serious challenges to sustainable development, promotion and protection of human rights and rule of law. The scourge of terrorism is the gravest violation of human rights and must be dealt with in strongest terms in all its forms and manifestations. India has a zero- tolerance against all criminal activities that sustain terror networks. 

Madam Chair 

To conclude, I would like to reiterate our firm commitment to work actively and constructively towards women empowerment and protection and promotion of human rights of all. 

I thank you