General Assembly General Assembly

 Statement by Mr. Mayank Joshi, First Secretary, on   Agenda Item 72 : 'Promotion and Protection of Human Rights' (b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights an fundamental freedoms (c) Human rights situations and reports of special Rapporteurs and representatives at the Third Committee of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly  on October 30, 2015

 

 
Madam Chair,
 
My delegation wishes to thank the Secretary General and the Special Rapporteurs for their informative reports under the Agenda item 'Promotion and Protection of Human rights'.
 
Madam Chair,
 
2016 will mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development (RTD). While we have succeeded in embarking on a new and ambitious post 2015 agenda for development, it remains a matter of deep concern that, even after three decades since the adoption of the RTD Declaration, we have not been able to achieve any tangible progress in strengthening the normative and practical underpinnings of the right to development, whose full and effective realization would be central for achieving the sustainable development goals and fulfilling all human rights for all. 
 
We are particularly concerned at the slow pace of progress in the Working Group on RTD, a concern that is reflected in the SG's report as well. We hope that the forthcoming anniversary of HRC would provide an occasion to undertake an honest assessment of gaps and challenges, renew our commitment and redouble efforts for mainstreaming RTD in policies and programs of all relevant actors at the national, regional and international levels. 
 
Madam Chair,
 
The SG's report on the impact of globalization on the enjoyment of human rights once again highlights the need to address the unequal distribution of benefits of globalization and ensure that global trade, finance, investment and intellectual property right systems that are driving globalization do not unduly diminish domestic policy space and undermine a State's ability to meet its human rights obligations. 
 
We fully support the view of the Secretary General that democratic governance and respect for human rights at all levels should guide and regulate globalization and to that end, the right to development, which assures equality of opportunity for development to all individuals and peoples, and calls for active and meaningful participation in development and the fair distribution of the benefits resulting therefrom, must be fulfilled as a matter of priority. 
 
Madam Chair,
 
The scourge of terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to the full enjoyment of human rights, violating the most fundamental right to life, destroying whole societies and threatening peace and development everywhere. In fact, it is the antithesis of human rights and human dignity. 
 
There can be no alternative but to unequivocally condemn terrorism and its manifestations and adopt a zero tolerance policy towards them. The international community has a responsibility to cooperate fully to root out all kinds of financial, moral and material support to terrorists and their activities. We need to adopt a comprehensive approach to address the various linkages between counter-terrorism measures and human rights by implementing all four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced and integrated manner.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Madam Chair,
 
It is our long-held belief that human rights issues cannot be approached in isolation, ignoring the complex and intricate relationship between human rights, development, democracy and international cooperation.  
 
Human rights must also not be used as political tools. Selective naming and shaming of countries and intrusive monitoring not only go against the principles of impartiality, neutrality, objectivity and non-interference but also deters cooperation from the country concerned. We would like to reiterate that long term and sustained improvements in human rights can be achieved only through the cooperation and full participation of the concerned State. 
 
Our collective efforts should, therefore, focus on promoting genuine dialogue and strengthening national capacities without attaching any external conditionality.  
 
Madam Chair,
 
As a multi-religious, multiethnic, multicultural country, we take great pride in our unity in diversity and support all efforts to build bridges of understanding between nations, peoples, religions and cultures. 
 
We take note of the Secretary General report on combating intolerance, negative stereo-typing, stigmatization, discrimination and violence against persons based on religion or belief. We steadfastly reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
 
Madam Chair,
 
The Special Rapporteurs on right to safe drinking water and sanitation, right to food and right to education, in their respective reports, have raised some pertinent issues related to the progressive realization of these rights. 
 
India has taken significant steps towards enforcing justiciability of basic socio-economic rights through the enactment of landmark legislations such as the Food Security Act and the Right to Education Act. We have also embarked on an ambitious 'Swachh Bharat' (Clean India) campaign to make India open defecation free by 2019. Government has also launched a number of nation wide insurance schemes to provide social security coverage to millions of poor and disadvantaged people.
 
Our foremost priority is to ensure rapid, sustainable and inclusive development to achieve full realization of human rights for all our people. Our efforts in this endeavor are rooted in fundamental human rights principles and we remain committed to uphold and pursue higher norms and standards in further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights at domestic and international level. 
 
I Thank You.