India Slams Pakistan Over Kashmir Issue at UNHRC UPSC

Description

UNHRC

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Context: India responds firmly to Pakistan's Kashmir comments at UNHRC, focusing on internal affairs and condemning terrorism support.

Details

India strongly rejected Pakistan's attempts to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the UNHRC, emphasizing that it considers the region an integral and inalienable part of India. It asserted that constitutional measures taken by the Indian government in the region are internal matters.
India criticized Pakistan for its support of terrorism and its poor human rights record. It highlighted Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism and systemic persecution of minorities, contrasting it with India's progress in economic development and social justice.
India reiterated that Pakistan has no standing to pronounce on matters internal to India, particularly regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
Key Points	Explanation
Purpose	The UNHRC is the leading intergovernmental body within the United Nations responsible for upholding human rights globally. It investigates alleged human rights violations, issues recommendations to states and the UN system on improving human rights protections, and plays a role in setting international human rights standards.
Foundation	The UNHRC was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly. It superseded the UN Commission on Human Rights, which faced criticism for its perceived ineffectiveness and politicization.
Location	The UNHRC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, operating within the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Membership	The UNHRC comprises 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly. Seats are distributed across five regional groups to promote fair geographical representation. Members serve three-year terms and are eligible for re-election for one consecutive term.
Structure	President & Bureau: Handles procedural and management aspects. Working Groups and Special Mechanisms: Focus on specific human rights issues or country situations (e.g., Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteur on Torture). Universal Periodic Review (UPR): A unique mechanism in which the human rights records of all UN member states undergo peer review through a cycle.
Activities	Monitoring: Scrutinizes human rights situations globally and takes action where concerns exist. Investigating: Initiates in-depth investigations through commissions of inquiry or by appointing special rapporteurs (experts) where allegations of severe abuses occur. Reporting: Provides detailed public reports about human rights conditions and specific investigations. Recommendations: Provides guidance to states, the UN system, and other actors on improving human rights practices. Standard-Setting: Contributes to the development of new human rights instruments such as treaties and declarations. Capacity-Building: Offers technical assistance and training to help states meet their human rights obligations.

Conclusion

The work of the UNHRC plays a crucial role in advancing the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promoting international cooperation in the field of human rights. However, like any international organization, it faces ongoing challenges in achieving its objectives and ensuring that its actions are universally perceived as fair and impartial.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) operates under the principle of universality, applying the same human rights standards to all member states. However, some argue that this approach does not adequately consider the cultural and religious specificities of different countries. How can the UNHRC navigate this tension between universality and cultural sensitivity in promoting and protecting human rights globally?