India's Human Rights report under appraisal today at UNHRC in Geneva

New Delhi: India's National Report for the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle will be reviewed today at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. India submitted its national report in August 2022.

The 41st session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group is being held from 7 to November 18 2022, in Palais des Nations, United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

India report is being discussed on Thursday, November 10. It will allow the highlighting of pressing concerns related to human rights online, underline whether governments are fulfilling their commitments and share recommendations to promote accountability.

India has sent a significant contingent of legal luminaries and experts to participate and defend if some issues against India are raised. Mr Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, is leading the team.

The other members comprise Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Amb. Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India in Geneva, K.M. Nataraj, Additional Solicitor General of India and senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Members from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, the NITI Aayog, and the Vice Chancellor of the National Law University, Delhi, are also participating.

Report on India will focus on critical issues relating to human rights online in India, including internet shutdowns, digital exclusion, freedom of speech and expression online, online harassment and hate speech, privacy, surveillance and data protection.

The report draws on extensive and ongoing online human rights monitoring in India by several civil society organizations and a desk review.

Some recommendations may also be tabled. States under Review have to take a position on all UPR recommendations received by either supporting or noting them. India's UPR outcome report will be adopted at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council in March 2023.

The National Report of India, submitted on August 5 2022, outlines steps towards promoting and protecting human rights, including implementing recommendations accepted by India's suggested in the 3rd UPR cycle in 2017.

India's report was prepared in collaboration with the National Law University, Delhi, after consultations with diverse stakeholders, drawing representatives from the judiciary, national human rights institutions, academia, civil society organizations, and the general public.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council based on equal treatment for all countries.

It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.

The UPR was established when the Human Rights Council was created on March 15 2006, by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251. it mandated the Council to "undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment concerning all States".

The reviews are conducted by the UPR Working Group, which consists of the 47 members of the Council; however, any UN Member State can take part in the discussion/dialogue with the reviewed States.

Each State review is assisted by groups of three States, known as "troikas", who serve as rapporteurs. The selection of the troikas for each State is made through a drawing of lots following elections for the Council membership in the General Assembly.

The reviews are based on the information provided by the State under Review, which can take the form of a "national report"; information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; input from other stakeholders including national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Currently, no other mechanism of this kind exists. India plays an active role and has been engaged constructively with the members of the UNHRC and other fellow UN Member States to promote and protect human rights globally.