United Nations: India has strongly rejected a report by a UN human rights expert that suggests young people in the country face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice, dismissing it as "hearsay" and urging the expert to verify facts before issuing sweeping claims.
First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Anuj Swarup, delivered the national statement at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee during an interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero.
Objection to anonymous submissions
Swarup objected to the report's assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation, pointing out that Romero cites only "unnamed submissions" in a footnote. "A sweeping charge against the world's largest youth population, resting on anonymous and unverified claims, is not evidence. It is hearsay dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright," he said.
The report also takes note of a "satirical political movement" created by the country's youth — a reference to the Cockroach Janata Party — and Swarup said India found that characterisation ironic.
'Verify before vilifying'
"A mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalise for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge this Special Rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigour and fairness in her reports," Swarup said. He added that "this level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility."
India said freedoms of assembly, association, speech and expression are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press and an empowered National Human Rights Commission.
Citing youth engagement
"In which repressive State does a satirical youth party question the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders," Swarup asked. He said that when students protested this summer over irregularities in public examinations, the government engaged constructively — and within weeks Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act, doubling punishments for paper leaks, carried out a systemic examination overhaul, and created fast-track courts in every state dedicated to prosecuting exam fraud.
He added that more than five million young people took part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue this year, shaping national priorities directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has said youth capability will become India's capability.
Sources: New Indian Express — India rejects UN human rights expert report on youth retaliation as 'Hearsay'
First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Anuj Swarup, delivered the national statement at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee during an interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero.
Objection to anonymous submissions
Swarup objected to the report's assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation, pointing out that Romero cites only "unnamed submissions" in a footnote. "A sweeping charge against the world's largest youth population, resting on anonymous and unverified claims, is not evidence. It is hearsay dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright," he said.
The report also takes note of a "satirical political movement" created by the country's youth — a reference to the Cockroach Janata Party — and Swarup said India found that characterisation ironic.
'Verify before vilifying'
"A mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalise for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge this Special Rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigour and fairness in her reports," Swarup said. He added that "this level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility."
India said freedoms of assembly, association, speech and expression are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press and an empowered National Human Rights Commission.
Citing youth engagement
"In which repressive State does a satirical youth party question the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders," Swarup asked. He said that when students protested this summer over irregularities in public examinations, the government engaged constructively — and within weeks Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act, doubling punishments for paper leaks, carried out a systemic examination overhaul, and created fast-track courts in every state dedicated to prosecuting exam fraud.
He added that more than five million young people took part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue this year, shaping national priorities directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has said youth capability will become India's capability.
Sources: New Indian Express — India rejects UN human rights expert report on youth retaliation as 'Hearsay'
