India has urged the international community to display "zero tolerance" towards terrorism, calling it the most "indefensible violation of human rights" and asserting that those responsible should always be held accountable. Speaking at the High-Level Segment of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday emphasized that India has been at the forefront of dealing with global challenges that impact human rights, particularly terrorism.
Jaishankar acknowledged that the past three years have been challenging for the world, with developing countries hit the hardest. The Covid-19 pandemic, rising fuel and food prices, and growing debt burdens have adversely affected people's enjoyment of human rights globally. Jaishankar stressed that collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals have been seriously set back.
"India believes that the world must resolutely display zero tolerance. After all, terrorism is the most indefensible violation of human rights and has no justification in any circumstances. Its perpetrators must, therefore, always be held accountable," Jaishankar said without naming any country.
While he did not mention Pakistan by name, India has been vocal in calling attention to Pakistan's role in fomenting cross-border terrorism.
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Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to meeting all its human rights obligations and ensuring that its people enjoy all their basic human rights. As the world marked 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 30 years of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Jaishankar highlighted the universality of all basic human rights. "They embody India's civilisational ethos and democratic values, the edifice on which contemporary India is being built," he said.
Jaishankar noted that India is also celebrating 75 years of independence, and highlighted the strength of India's secular and democratic polity. He added that India has always played an active role in promoting and protecting human rights globally, including through its developmental partnerships. These partnerships have focused on building capacity and developing human resources and infrastructure in accordance with the priorities of India's partners, while abiding by principles of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and viability.
"Our partnerships have focused on building capacity and development of human resources as well as infrastructure in accordance with the priorities of our partners while abiding by principles of fiscal responsibility, transparency and viability," he said. Jaishankar's remarks assume significance amid global concerns on China's predatory loans to countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal.
The external affairs minister pointed out that India's constitution guarantees civil and political rights as fundamental rights, and also includes provisions for the progressive realization of economic, social, and cultural rights. He emphasized that India's independent judiciary, media, and civil society have played their expected roles in this regard. He also noted that India has accorded high priority to gender inclusion and the empowerment of women, promoting women-led development.
