India Urges UN Human Rights Council to End Politicization

The Government of India urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to maintain sustained attention toward terrorism, characterizing it as one of the gravest threats to the right to life. During a debate at the UN General Assembly in New York, First Secretary Bhavika Mangalanandan advocated for a policy of zero tolerance and criticized the Government of Pakistan for attempting to justify certain terrorist acts.

Mangalanandan criticized the Council for the weaponization of human rights, arguing that selectivity and double standards deepen divisions. She asserted that human rights are best advanced through dialogue, capacity building, and genuine partnerships rather than coercion or politicization. India further argued that the Council's credibility depends on even-handedness, noting that country-specific mandates pursued without the engagement of the affected nation seldom improve conditions on the ground.

India also called for a shift in priorities, demanding that economic, social, and cultural rights—including the right to development—receive the same emphasis as civil and political rights. Mangalanandan highlighted poverty and debt as primary obstacles to human rights in the developing world. To ensure independence, India urged for predictable funding through the regular budget to prevent earmarked voluntary contributions from shaping the Council's priorities.