New Delhi: Expressing concern over the “steadily worsening humanitarian situation” in Ukraine, India called for respect and protection of human rights of people in Ukraine and also safe humanitarian access to conflict zones. In line with its position so far on Ukraine, the Indian government didn’t condemn Russia’s actions even as it said no solution can ever be found at the cost of human lives.
Participating in an urgent debate on the Ukraine situation in the UN Human Rights Council, the government reiterated its call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities while underlining India’s concerns about the safety and security of Indian students stranded in the country. Following the debate, the human rights council will vote for adopting a resolution seeking a commission of inquiry into alleged human rights violations by Russia.
India is likely to abstain, as it has so far, on all Ukraine-related resolutions in the UN. India was among the 13 countries who abstained from voting earlier this week on the proposal for an urgent debate on Ukraine in the rights council. Twenty-nine member-states in the 47-member body had voted in favour. The resolution is likely to be adopted as it requires only more affirmative votes and not a majority.
India has traditionally too abstained from voting on any “intrusive mandate’’ in the human rights council. The government last year abstained from voting on a similar resolution seeking a commission of inquiry into alleged violations in Gaza and West Bank. It abstained on another resolution on Sri Lanka’s rights record early last year.
While China has abstained from voting on resolutions against Russia in the UNSC and General Assembly, it is expected to fully back Russia in the human rights council.
