Mr. President,  

The United Nations is a microcosm of humanity in all its diversity. The United Nations, representing our collective will, also continues to play a crucial role in the promotion and protection of human rights across the globe.  

The idea of human rights is not new. It flows from ancient traditions, civilisations, cultures and faiths, all of which are represented among us here today.  

However, the idea of human rights continues to often cause dissonance during international deliberations. Such dissonance betrays a lack of understanding and tolerance of diversity of cultural contexts and a desire on part of some to impose a certain point of view. 

Diversity is, in fact, the source of strength of all societies.  

We in India understand and appreciate this acutely. With one sixth of world's population, India is a nation of mega diversity in all respects. Of ethnicities, faiths, languages, cultures, cuisines. The Indian civilization has flourished because of this immense diversity.  

The strength of the Constitution of independent India and its democratic polity lies in how it respects the country's bewildering diversity, and safeguards the various rights of different communities at a collective level as also individual rights.  

Cultural diversity and human rights are not contradictory to each other. One reinforces the other. 

It is in this context that the 2001 UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the 2007 Tehran Declaration on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity are of special relevance. 

We are now living in times where intolerance for diversity and human mobility has grown as a simplistic reaction to the uneven impacts of globalisation and ongoing conflicts.  

Therefore, today's meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the Tehran Declaration is timely.  

The role of institutions like the NAM Centre for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity also assumes importance in promoting greater awareness to promote tolerance and countering ill-informed fears or motivated stereotypes that give rise to various forms of discrimination among societies.  

We remain committed to work with our partners to preserve the diversity of our collective cultural heritage and to promote respect for human rights.  

Thank you Mr. President.