Recent news has shown India abstaining from a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva. The Council proposed a resolution for an international commission of inquiry into Russia’s actions in Ukraine. This move was significant considering it happened following India’s meeting with Quad countries. It is important to note that this isn’t the first time India has abstained from such resolutions – it had done the same in the past in the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Security Council.
India also refrained from voting on an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution concerning the safety of four nuclear power stations and several nuclear waste sites, including Chernobyl, which is under Russian control.
Understanding the UNHRC
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system which is dedicated to strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly formed the Council in 2006, replacing the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), based in Geneva, Switzerland, serves as the Council’s Secretariat.
The Council comprises 47 United Nations Member States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly. These elections take into account the candidate States’ contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights along with their voluntary pledges and commitments towards this cause.
The Council has several mechanisms and procedures, including the Universal Periodic Review, Advisory Committee, Complaint Procedure, and UN Special Procedures, each serving a unique purpose in assessing the human rights situations in member states and providing expertise and advice on related issues.
Issues within the UNHRC
The composition of the Council’s membership has often raised concerns. Critics argue that the inclusion of countries such as China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia, and Venezuela, despite allegations of human rights abuses, poses a threat to the Council’s reputation. In addition, accusations of disproportionate focus on certain countries have been leveled against the council. One such instance was when the US withdrew from the agency in 2018 because of its perceived overemphasis on Israel.
India’s Relationship with the UNHRC
Recently, some Special Rapporteurs to the United Nations expressed concerns over India’s draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020, prompting them to bring these issues to the Indian government’s attention. Furthermore, in 2020, India’s National Human Rights Commission submitted its mid-term report to the Council as part of the third round of the Universal Periodic Review process. Interestingly, India had been elected to the Council for a three-year term starting from January 1, 2019.
Finally, wrapping up with a Practice Your Question (PYQ) from 2011 on Human Rights under the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” it’s noteworthy that the right to education, equal access to public service, and food are all recognized as Human Rights.
The source used for this analysis is TH.
