A window onto cooperation, dialogue, leadership and policymaking at the UN Human Rights Council
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A window onto cooperation, dialogue, leadership and policymaking at the UN Human Rights Council
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India

Regional group:

Asia – Pacific Group (APG)

Council member:
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Council Bureau membership:
  • Vice-president (2014)
Coordinator of regional group: 1 (2008-2009)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :
Other HRC positions:
  • Member of Consultative Group (2010-2011)
OHCHR presence:
–
No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:
A
National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF):  Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, India has only once voted in favour of a country-specific resolution under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention): a 2012 EU resolution on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. India has, in addition, twice voted in favour of country-specific resolutions under item 2: 2012 and 2013 US-sponsored texts on the situation in Sri Lanka. In the absence of consensus on item 4 drafts, India usually abstains during voting. It has voted against a number of resolutions on the situations in Belarus and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), India has voted in favour of almost all texts. Regarding item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), India has joined consensus on all resolutions except for three that were voted on during the period of its membership: on cooperation with Ukraine (India twice abstained); and on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (India voted in favour). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, India has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has nearly always voted in favour. India has though voted against texts on the death penalty (twice) and a 2014 vote on peaceful protests. India has abstained on a number of resolutions on issues including: defamation of religion; right to peace; torture; drones; and sexual orientation. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, India has either joined consensus on, or has voted in favour of, all adopted texts.  

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

0

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78
0

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50
1

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109
99

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96
6

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation
Communications responded to / received
24
91
Visits requests status
Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on torture (1999)

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

6
8

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status
Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable
On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report
ICESRC
12.5 Years
OP-CAT

Ratified


NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2008, 2012, 2017)

Mid-term report

 

Level of delegation

National Law University, Delhi and National Human Rights Commission

Participation in other reviews
1st cycle: 28 / 192
2nd cycle: 71 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?
YES
Response to allegations from government concerned?
YES

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments 

Specific voluntary pledges: 14

India presented voluntary commitments and pledges in support of its candidature for membership for the period 2019-2021 in August 2018.

At national level, India pledged, inter alia, to: strive for the full realisation of all rights, including the right to
development; maintain the independence and power of its NHRIs; continue to foster transparency and accountability across government; continue to nurture civil society space; continue to pursue the necessary domestic actions to implement the 2030 Agenda.

At international level, India committed, inter alia, to: cooperate to help build other States’ capacity to fulfil
their human rights obligations; strengthen the work of the Council and further engage and cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms, as well as with the Treaty Bodies; continue to support international efforts
to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance; continue to support OHCHR, including through regular voluntary contributions; implement accepted UPR recommendations; ratify the CAT; and continue to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

An analysis of steps taken by India in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that, although it
maintains a standing invitation to Special Procedures, only around 30% of all visit requests received by the State have resulted in an actual mission. Moreover, India has responded to less than 30% of all Special Procedures communications. India has yet to ratify the CAT and CED. Regarding those treaties to which it is party, India is late in submitting many of its periodic reports. India has made voluntary contributions to OHCHR every year since 2008.

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