India elected member of Human Rights Council
Suman Guha Mozumder in New York
May 10, 2006
Securing the largest number of votes among the contested seats, India was on
Tuesday elected to the first United Nations Human Rights Council at the
elections held in the United Nations General Assembly.
In the largest-ever elections in the history of the United Nations, 47 members to the Human Rights Council were elected directly and individually by secret ballot.
These elections were held in pursuance of a resolution of the United National General Assembly, adopted on March 15 to establish the HRC to replace the Commission on Human Rights.
The new body replaces the much criticised and now defunct Human Rights Commission.
In the drawing of lots, India, which has a one-year term, polled 173 votes out of 190.
But Indian officials said the term is crucial as during it a new human rights machinery would be shaped.
Secretary General Kofi Annan said that the high rate of participation reflected 'a widely shared commitment to replace the previous CHR with a body that can work more effectively, and can embody human rights ideals with more credibility.'
He said the Council elected Tuesday offers the United Nations a unique opportunity to make 'a fresh start in its vital work of upholding the highest standards of human rights'.
In the new HRC, India, as a democratic, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural society, would bring a perspective of 'straddling all divides of pluralism, moderation and balance'.
'India will continue to work towards promotion and protection of human rights based on the principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue and an integrated approach to all human rights, civil, political, social, economic and cultural,' Indian officials here said.
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