UNGA suspends Russia from Human Rights Council, India abstains from voting
India Today
United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council over its war in Ukraine.
United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council over its war in Ukraine.
The 197-member UN body voted on a resolution brought by the US. The resolution was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions, including India.
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India's representative at the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, explained the reasons why India abstained from the vote.
In a statement, he said, "Since the inception of the Ukrainian conflict, India has stood for peace, dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. If India has chosen any side, it is the side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence. We continue to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation and reiterate our call for end to all hostilities. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option."
"India has been at the forefront of protecting human rights, right from the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We firmly believe that all decisions should be taken fully respecting due process, as all our democratic polity and structures enjoin us to do. This applies to international organisations as well, particularly the United Nations," he added.
The Human Rights Council consists of 47 Member States, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly. The General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, "may suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights."
