Mr. President, 

I take the floor to make an explanation of vote on the recommendation of the General Committee to include the agenda item 'The Responsibility to Protect and the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity' in the 72nd Session of the General Assembly. 

Mr. President, 

The General Assembly has in the last few sessions focused on revitalizing its work to carry out its role as a deliberative and norm-setting organ, as envisaged in the UN Charter. Today, very early in this session, we are faced with the option of deciding on whether we are ready to move further in this process. We are called on to decide whether we should discuss and deliberate on an issue which has enormous relevance for our work and our times.  

The principle of State sovereignty is a well-established principle of international law. It has been the bed-rock that underpins inter-state relations for several centuries now. However, developments have also shown that there exist growing concerns that this cardinal principle of State sovereignty has not always been able to prevent atrocity crimes.  

India like many others recognizes the need to find appropriate ways to address these legally complex and politically challenging issues.  It is evident that we need to reflect upon the gaps in understanding the concept of R2P and to ensure that the quest for a more just global order takes place in a manner that will not undermine international order itself. Such thematic consideration requires open, inclusive and transparent discussions. They will need to address a host of unresolved legal and sensitive political principles on which there is clearly no consensus.    

India's consistent position is that the responsibility to protect its population is one of the foremost responsibilities of every State. The right to life is one of the rights from which no derogation is permitted. States, while reflecting the will of 'we the people' also exist to protect the rights of 'we the people'.  

We have noted the affirmation by the sponsors of the proposal that the aim is to have a debate at the 72nd Session only.  They have articulated their objective as wanting to have a thematic debate and not one that addresses country-specific situations, and have also indicated that they do not seek the adoption of any resolution. This is in line with our understanding that the gravity of the normative concepts at stake requires careful deliberation rather than pre-emptive decision making. 

It is with this understanding that my delegation will vote in support of the recommendation of the General Committee to include the item in the Agenda of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly.  

Thank you, Mr. President.
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