Statement by India under Agenda Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, at the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council (8 September - 8 October 2025), delivered by Mr. Kshitij Tyagi, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 16 September 2025
Mr. Vice President.
1. India welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report on access to justice and remedies for toxic exposures. We strongly support comprehensive remedies encompassing prevention, clean-up, and compensation to protect human rights. In that spirit, we participated wholeheartedly in the plastics treaty negotiations.
2. India's constitutional framework, reinforced by an active judiciary and the National Green Tribunal, provides robust mechanisms for environmental justice. Our legal system has developed innovative jurisprudence that strengthens the rights of marginalized communities and provides remedies for victims of toxic exposure.
3. We remain committed to enhancing access to information, public participation, and judicial capacity. India appreciates the recommendations on international cooperation and capacity building, while emphasizing respect for national sovereignty and development priorities.
4. India supports strengthened dialogue on remedy mechanisms to ensure no community faces injustice from toxic exposures.
5. We recognize that effective remedies require coordinated efforts between states, corporations, and international bodies. India stands ready to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur and Member States to develop timely, comprehensive solutions that protect vulnerable populations while advancing sustainable development.
Thank you.
