Underlining terrorism as one of the “gravest threats to humankind”, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, called for coordinated global response to the challenges confronting the human rights agenda, global inequities, armed conflicts and the need for reforms in multilateral institutions.
Terrorism
Referring to terrorism in his speech at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Mr Jaishankar termed it as a ‘crime against humanity’, and reiterated India’s stand against that terrorism violates fundamental human right – namely, the right to life. “This is possible only when there is a clear realisation, including in bodies dealing with human rights, that terrorism can never be justified, nor its perpetrators ever equated with its victims,” he said. The minister underscored India’s eight-point action plan to deal with terrorism and emphasized on working with members of the Security Council to ensure the implementation of this plan.
COVID-19
Highlighting the need for countries to come together to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, Mr Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to deal with Covid-19 both at home and abroad. “By giving direct food support to 800 million Indians and financial support to 400 million, many of them women, we ensured that basic needs were very effectively addressed even during the lockdown. And as we addressed the health front at home, we responded to the world in equal measure,” he said.
Noting that India provided medicines and equipment to more than 150 countries amid the pandemic, Mr Jaishankar said: “In the same spirit, India has pledged to use its vaccine manufacturing capacity to make vaccines accessible and affordable to all. From Bangladesh to Brazil and from Morocco to Fiji, the pharmacy of the world is today supplying millions of vaccine doses to more than 70 countries.”
Inclusive development
Mr Jaishankar also referred to the Indian government’s steps aimed at economic and social development in line with his vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”, or “working together for inclusive development for all and securing the trust of all”. These initiatives include the largest financial inclusion scheme covering 417 million Indians, free health insurance coverage for 500 million, provision of 150 million homes to the underprivileged, loans at concessional rates to 140 million Indians to promote entrepreneurship, and 50 million free gas connections to women from rural households.
India is committed to take all steps to ensure the “fullest enjoyment of basic human rights of our people, including inclusive and sustainable development”, he said. “India is building a better and fairer society at home; it is also contributing to a better and fairer world,” he added.
Transparency
Commenting on the recent criticism of the Indian government’s handling of the farmers’ protest and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said that India believes “violation of and gaps in implementation of human rights should be addressed in a fair and just manner, with objectivity, non-selectivity, transparency and with due respect to the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and national sovereignty”.
“India’s approach to the UN Human Rights Council is guided by a spirit of engagement, dialogue and consultation and the country believes there should be equal emphasis on promotion and protection of human rights. Both are best pursued through dialogue, consultation and cooperation amongst states as well as technical assistance and capacity building,” asserted the minister.
(Palak Chhabra contributed inputs for this article)
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