General Comments by India on Consideration of the Resolution A/HRC/45/L.48/Rev1 on “Rights of the child: realizing the rights of the child through a healthy environment” at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council (14 September – 07 October 2020) delivered by Mr. Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 07 October 2020)

Madam President,

          Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to hand-over to them at least as it was handed over to us.”

Madam President,

2. It should be our responsibility to hand over a prosperous and secure future for our children. For this, it would be essential to protect and improve the environment by all of us. The Indian Constitution is amongst the first in the world conferring constitutional status to environment protection and to recognize the right to live in pollution free environment is a part of the fundamental right to life.

Madam President,

3. The resolution under consideration focusses on mitigating the negative impacts of climate  change  on  children and mainstreaming  the  rights  of  the  child in  the  climate  change adaptation, mitigation and environmental strategies. It’s important that the rights of the child are at the centre of environmental, climate, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian and development activities.  

4. We welcome the theme chosen for the next annual full day meeting as we believe in an inclusive sustainable development process that is complementary to the promotion and protection of all rights particularly that of children and our future generations. India remains committed to this cause and work together with all in this endevour.

Thank you, Madam President.