Statement by India in the Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, during the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council (23 February – 31 March 2026), delivered by Mr. Muhammed Shabeer K, US (UNES), Geneva, 4 March 2026 Statement by India in the Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the eff..
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Statement by India in the Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, during the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council (23 February – 31 March 2026), delivered by Mr. Muhammed Shabeer K, US (UNES), Geneva, 4 March 2026

Statement by India in the Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, during the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council (23 February – 31 March 2026), delivered by Mr. Muhammed Shabeer K, US (UNES), Geneva, 4 March 2026

Subject of the report: International assistance and cooperation (A/HRC/61/44)

Mr. Vice President,

India thanks the Independent Expert for her report. We agree with her arguments that a comprehensive fiscal legitimacy framework must not only govern domestic fiscal arrangements but also international mechanisms.

  1. My delegation would like to make following points in this regard:

First, multiple studies have shown that illicit financial outflows from developing countries to tax havens significantly exceed the official development assistance the developing countries receive, thereby draining resources urgently needed for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. This only strengthens the case for ambitious reform of global financial governance and achieving international fiscal legitimacy.

Second, there is a need to ensure that north-cooperation and ODA targets are met. South-South cooperation can only be a complement but not a substitute to North-South Cooperation. Often, we have seen that cost of implementing those ODAs is higher than what reaches on ground. ODA thus sustains an industry of aid rather than impact people positively on the ground.

Third, we also note that humanitarian aid when counted as ODA does not do justice to the development dimension of the ODA. Humanitarian aid should be separated from the ODA being provided for development.

And fourth, international assistance should be demand-driven, respect national ownership and avoid political and fiscal conditionalities. We have repeatedly observed that rather than supporting democracy as a universal principle, selective promotion of democracy is used as a pre-condition for international assistance, only for narrow geo-political goals.

  1. India remains committed to working with all partners to build a more just, inclusive and development-oriented international economic order that genuinely advances ESCR for all.

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