Prelims – 22nd Nov 23

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

• Established by UN general assembly resolution 60/251 in 2006.
• HQ at Geneva (Switzerland).
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council.
• UNHRC members are elected by the General Assembly (UNGA) with three-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
• Human Rights Council candidates are elected in geographical groups to ensure even representation.
• Decision of UNHRC are NOT legally binding.
• ‘Universal Periodic Review’ process, where all states are scrutinized, is currently in its fourth cycle. At the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of India at the HRC, countries like Greece, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Vatican City have urged the Government to ensure freedom of religion and end discrimination against human rights defenders and religious minorities.
• India is elected in UNHRC for 2022-24 term [6th such term]
• The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of India are: Sudan, Nepal and the Netherlands.

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

• Formerly known as the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions. It was established in the year 1993.
• HQ: Geneva, Switzerland
• GANHRI promotes the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) worldwide, providing a forum for its members to interact and exchange, as well as facilitating their engagement with international organisations
• GANHRI is responsible for reviewing and accrediting National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) in compliance with Paris Principles every five years
• Paris Principles (They were adopted in 1993 by United Nations General Assembly which provides the international benchmarks for accreditation of NHRIs by GANHRIs)
• Recently, GANHRI, for the second time in a row, GANHRI deferred accreditation of NHRC citing objections like political interference in appointments, involving police in probes into human rights violations, poor cooperation with civil society etc. Without the accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• Established in 1966, HQ: Manila, Philippines.
• 68 members-of which 49 are from within Asia and the pacific and 19 outside
• India is a founding member.
• In non-borrowing members category, US and Japan have the highest shareholding at 15.6%.
• In borrowing category, China and India have 6.4% and 6.3% respectively.
• ADB assists members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance and helps in facilitating policy dialogues etc.
• Important reports by ADB: Asian Development Outlook 2023, Asian Economic Integration Report 2023 etc.
• As of the end of December 2022, ADB had committed $52.6 billion in 605 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance in India, as well as $8 billion in private sector investments.
• Important projects through ADB loans: Visakhapatnam- Chennai Industrial Corridor; Nhava sheva container terminal project; Chennai metro rail investment project etc.