Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions
India has been in the core group of the following resolutions: access to medicines, vaccines, and other health products 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 (Hansen’s disease) and their family members; and human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.
Voting record
Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, India has mostly abstained during voting on resolutions tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), with the exception of one 2012 resolution on the Syrian Arab Republic (India voted in favour). It voted against six texts concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran and against eight concerning Belarus. India has also tended to abstain on country-specific resolutions under item 2; it voted in favour of two resolutions on Sri Lanka (2012, 2013) and one on Afghanistan (2021), but voted against texts on Eritrea (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024), the Philippines (2019), Yemen (2019, 2020) and Tigray (2021). For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory), India has mostly voted in favour, abstaining on five occasions. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), India has joined consensus on all texts except for the following that were voted on during its time as member: on cooperation with Ukraine (India abstained seven times), cooperation with Georgia (abstained five times), the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (voted in favour twice) and capacity-building in Colombia (voted in favour).
For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, India has mainly joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has voted in favour of resolutions on issues including: mercenaries; racism; arbitrary detention; arms transfers; civil society; democracy and the rule of law; and discrimination based on religion or belief. Resolutions it has abstained on include texts on defamation of religions, drones, sexual orientation, torture, and the right to peace. It has consistently voted against resolutions on the question of the death penalty. 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
Most overdue report
Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments