India on Tuesday abstained from voting on a UN Human Rights Council resolution that would have extended by one year the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to probe human rights violations as a result of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine.
The resolution was adopted in the 47-member body with 28 member-states voting in favor. India was among 17 countries that abstained from voting. Only China and Eritrea voted against the resolution. India was also absent last year when the council voted to set up the inquiry.
India has abstained from voting on all resolutions on all UN platforms, including 6 in the UN General Assembly and 3 in the UN Human Rights Council, which condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The latest resolution in the Human Rights Council condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law resulting from Russia’s actions and called for the prompt and verifiable withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
India, however, said that international principles and jurisprudence cast the onus on the parties to the conflict to ensure that civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted in situations of armed conflict.
“The global order to which we subscribe is based on international law, the United Nations Charter and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states. These principles must be upheld without exception,” Pawan Badhe, Permanent Adviser to India said the Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, in an explanation of India’s vote. Badhe expressed serious concern over reports of attacks on civilians and sought protection of human rights of people in Ukraine.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks before President Vladimir, he said, “We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever be found at the cost of human lives. In this context, our Prime Minister’s statement that this cannot be an era of war,” he said. Putin.
Emphasizing that escalation of hostilities and violence was in nobody’s interest, India reiterated its call for an immediate return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
The government also said that the conflict has raised concerns about food, fertilizer and fuel security, especially in developing countries. “It is essential for all of us to appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and access to these vital commodities for the Global South. Global South under economic crisis.