General Assembly General Assembly

75th United Nations General Assembly

 

Special Political and Decolonisation Committee 

(Fourth Committee)

 

Joint General Debate on Agenda Items 50 - 61 

 

INDIA STATEMENT

Ms. Vidisha Maitra, First Secretary

 

20 October 2020

 

Mr Chairperson, 

 

I take this opportunity to congratulate you on behalf of my delegation on your election as Chair of the 4th Committee and assure you of our full support.

 

I am delivering an abridged version of our national statement, touching briefly upon some of the agenda items under consideration today. The full version of the statement  will be submitted in writing.

 

Item 50: Effects of atomic radiation 

 

India appreciates the efforts taken by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), to understand effects and risk of exposure to ionising radiation and instilling confidence in the public with respect to uses of radiation in various aspects of life.

 

We appreciate the two substantive scientific reports adopted by the Scientific Committee during its sixty-sixth session in 2019, on health effects and inference of risk due to radiation exposure and on lung cancer from exposure to radon. The reports will help to revisit the existing guidelines for the radiation protection program.

 

We would like to recall that there is a growing body of researchers, who based on experimental and epidemiological evidence, does not support the Linear No Threshold (LNT) model of estimating health effects at low doses. In this regard, India re-emphasises its earlier stance on integrated study of radiobiology and epidemiology at international level in order to collect more systematic information about health effects of low dose radiation and revisiting LNT hypothesis and its application.

 

India stands ready to share with other member states, the knowledge gained on effects and risks of ionising radiation from its own experience and engage constructively on the various issues that come up for consideration of the Committee.

 

Item 51: International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space 

 

India deeply values the role played by the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in ensuring and encouraging peaceful uses of outer space for benefit of humankind.

 

As a major space faring nation of the world, India has been pursuing its space activities over five decades with the vision of utilizing the applications of space technology for the benefit of humankind. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India’s national space agency, is currently working with all stakeholders in the country to promote space technology tools for good governance and national development.

 

Since the 74th UN General Assembly, India has performed two launch vehicle missions to place the advanced remote sensing satellite Cartosat-3 and the microwave imaging satellite RISAT-2BR1 in orbit. India has also put 22 satellites from other countries through these missions in the orbit.

 

International cooperation has been an important element of Indian space programme, since its inception. Currently, we have formal cooperation agreements with 59 countries and 5 multinational bodies. India also continues to share its facilities and expertise in space technology through the United Nations affiliated Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) in Dehradun, India.  

 

India is a party to the major international treaties/regulations relating to outer space and has been fully implementing them as part of its space programme.

 

Given the new challenges which have emanated in the outer space domain, implementation of UN Treaties becomes more relevant to ensure the use of outer space in a sustained way in the long run, for the benefit of humanity.

 

We believe that international consultations and consensus on these issues, including the ongoing initiatives and deliberations in the UNCOPUOS, are essential at this juncture. India will remain closely associated with the important processes.

 

Item 52: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 

 

We thank the Commissioner-General of UNRWA for his detailed annual report and his briefing to the Fourth Committee.

 

India deeply appreciates their work of UNRWA to ensure a life of dignity for millions of our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Today, when the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of people around the globe, UNRWA’s mission has become even more relevant and remains vital to providing life-saving humanitarian relief and health care and for ensuring human resource development through education. 

 

The dire financial situation of UNRWA is nothing new. However, it seems to be worsening with every passing year. We appeal to other traditional donors of UNRWA to reiterate their political and financial commitment to UNRWA, and non-donor member states to consider contributing to UNRWA.

 

For India, supporting UNRWA is an important pillar of our long standing commitment to the Palestinian cause. We consider this support as not only a matter of expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, but also as an investment in peace and stability in the region. 

 

Recognizing the acute financial crisis that the Agency faces, India has stepped up the annual pledge to UNRWA to USD 5 million from USD 1.25 million with another USD 10 million committed over the coming two years, i.e. 2021 and 2022.

 

India has consistently underscored that a durable solution to the Palestine refugee question can be achieved only through the establishment of a Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within mutually agreed borders. Hence, India urges both parties to resume direct negotiations at the earliest. The international community must take concrete steps towards resuming and facilitating these negotiations quickly.

 

Item 54: Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects

 

India pays tribute to the men and women who have served and continue to serve in peacekeeping operations for their professionalism, dedication and courage. We remember those who have lost their lives in serving the cause of peace, including those who fell to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

On financial management of peacekeeping operations, we welcome the reduction of pending arrears to troop and police contributors. While there has been considerable progress in dealing with delayed payments, this still needs to be further addressed, especially in respect of Closed Peacekeeping Missions.

 

We appreciate the efforts undertaken by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34) to address issues that have impacted the functioning of the Committee, and welcome  the successful conclusion of its work under challenging circumstances this year. At the same time, we hope that this process, which  impacts a wide range of issues relating to peacekeeping, will be broad-based and not restricted to a regional approach. This is important to retain the credibility and relevance of the C-34.

 

We reaffirm our commitment to Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) including the recent A4P Champions initiative by the Secretariat. We believe that as part of the A4P follow-up and implementation, the following focus areas need particular attention: inclusion of all stakeholders and all phases of peacekeeping operations in the Performance and Accountability mechanism; developing a culture of ‘no national caveats’ in  UN peacekeeping; incentivizing women peacekeepers; and the need for a a comprehensive medical mapping exercise of all Missions.

 

Item 55: Comprehensive review of Special Political Missions 

 

We thank the Under Secretaries Generals for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and for Field Support for their comprehensive briefings on Special Political Missions, which remain a key instrument for the United Nations in the areas of peace and security and conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding.

 

We also welcome the updates from the Secretariat on measures being taken to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SPMs, in particular on mandate implementation.

 

We reiterate that the principles of impartiality, consent of parties, national ownership and national responsibility should be paramount at all stages of the Special Political Missions. 

 

There is also a need for a genuinely transparent, participatory and consultative process, be it during inception of the Mission, mandate formulation or renewal. 

 

Finally, we must address the fragmented manner in which the funding of SPMs is handled, without following the regular budget cycles of the UN. A separate account for SPMs, to be assessed at peacekeeping scales and in line with the peacekeeping budget cycle, would enhance transparency in the budgetary process of SPMs. 

 

Item 56: Questions relating to information 

 

India welcomes the consensus adoption of the report of the 42nd session of Committee on Information. 

 

We are living in a unique information era, where misinformation and disinformation has been spreading faster than facts and news. This has been more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people around the world have been craving for information. This anxiety and fear of the virus has been exploited through deliberate dissemination of unauthenticated information, unscientific data, fake news and competing narratives across multiple platforms. The need for accurate, impartial and timely information has never been greater.

 

In such a desperate situation, it is heartening to see DGC ensuring business continuity and supporting the larger UN system to position the UN as the most authoritative and authentic source on scientific knowledge, best practices, including through the ‘Verified’ campaign

 

India is concerned by the growing attacks on UN peacekeepers, which also results from anti-UN propaganda. We underscore the importance of this critical issue and urge the DGC to work together with Field Missions and tailor its communication strategies accordingly to address it.

 

India also takes note of the effort  made by the DGC to promote multilingualism, notably the appropriate use of non-official languages of the United Nations, such as Hindi,  in its communications during the pandemic. 

 

We are happy to partner with the DGC in evolving a unique model to mainstream and consolidate news and multimedia content through the UN News online portal and social media in Hindi. Within a short period of its commencement, UN’s Hindi Twitter account has witnessed a surge in its subscription and it has more than 5 million followers today. We hope to continue this partnership with DGC to enhance the visibility and impact of such efforts.

 

As part of its strategic communications, India would also like to see greater focus in the remarkable work done in the area of South-South cooperation in promoting the SDGs and achieving the Agenda 2030.

 

Items 51-61: Non-Self Governing Territories and Decolonisation 

 

As a former colony, India has always been in the forefront of the struggle against colonialism and apartheid since its own independence over seven decades ago.

 

In 1962 India was elected the first Chair of the Decolonization Committee (Committee of 24) that was established to monitor the implementation of the 1960 Declaration and to make recommendations on its application. We reaffirm our commitment to actively support this important Committee to meet its objectives.

 

Since the creation of the United Nations, more than 80 former colonies have gained their independence and joined the family of United Nations. However, the process of decolonization that began with our own independence remains unfinished

 

In 2011 the General Assembly had to proclaim the current decade, 2011-2020, as the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, a period which coming to an end this year.  There still remain 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, which are in various stages of the decolonization process on the Agenda of this Committee. We need to step up our efforts to conclude this long-drawn process. 

 

Since the principle of self determination, as considered on the agreed Agenda of this Committee, continues to be deliberately misinterpreted and misused by a particular delegation, it is pertinent to highlight once again that the United Nations has established the principle of self-determination as a vehicle for the worthy cause of decolonisation of the seventeen Non Self-Governing Territories on the agenda of this Committee, and not as a justification for undermining the territorial integrity of any Member State. 

 

India strongly believes that pursuing a pragmatic approach towards Decolonization would surely lead to fulfillment of legitimate wishes of the people of Non-Self Governing Territories. We must also strive to enhance cooperation with international agencies and actors and channelize resources for the 17 Non-Self Governing Territories. This would surely enable them to build capacities in their just and noble quest towards achieving long-cherished goals.

 

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

 

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