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Priorities for the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

A.Introduction

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly [78th UNGA] will open on 05 September 2023. The General Debate of the 78th UNGA will be held from 19-26 September 2023. The theme of the General Debate will be ""Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all."

2. H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations was elected to serve as President of the 78th session of the General Assembly on 1 June 2023.

3. PGA-elect Francis, has outlined priorities for his Presidency, which includes creatively working to preserve and further strengthen multilateralism, by re-dedicating ourselves to upholding and defending the Charter of the United Nations, prioritize rebuilding trust and reigniting meaningful global solidarity, regaining the lost momentum and accelerating action towards sustainable development, in order to achieve Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability for all People.

4. The world continues to grapple with the widespread socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, post pandemic recovery and ongoing geo-political tensions. The Ukraine conflict and its aggravating impact on food security, supply of fuel, and fertilizers on the developing world require collective efforts at the UN to reach creative and affordable solutions. During the 78th UNGA, the UN membership should strive to achieve unity of purpose to find solutions to common challenges of the world.

5. While the world is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, this has slowed down the global efforts on the 2030 Agenda and reversed years of progress on poverty, hunger, health care, education, climate change, access to clean water, and environmental protection. The ‘Decade of Action’ for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) needs to be put back on track.

6. Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Without drastic collective action, adapting to its impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.

7. The pandemic has also impacted how we fight terrorism. The world has witnessed the increased use of terrorism by countries as a means of waging war against others. It is essential for all Member States to not only prevent squandering of gains that have been achieved so far, but also to ensure that they do not give the slightest opportunity to provide excuses or justification for terrorism, thereby diminishing the collective fight.

8. These cross-national and cross-domain challenges have underlined the need for global solidarity and for reformed multilateralism. The cross-national and cross-domain challenges facing the world demand effective multilateral approaches. They require empowered, functional, and impact-oriented international institutions of governance.

9. The 78th session of the UNGA will also see the continuation of the intergovernmental processes underway as a follow up to the Secretary General's Our Common Agenda Report, which was released as mandated by the UN@75 Political Declaration in September 2021. These processes include a Summit of the Future in September 2024, and its preparatory Ministerial meeting on 21 September 2023. The Ministerial would adopt the draft decision on the scope and element of the Summit of the Future, negotiations on which is underway. The Secretary General has issued over nine policy briefs, focusing on various themes such as New Agenda for Peace, A Digital Global Compact, Future Generations, Emergency Platform, Youth Engagement, International Financial Architecture, Outer space etc. The outcome document of the Summit of the Future entitled ’A Pact for the Future’, would be an intergovernmentally negotiated document, to be negotiated during the 78th UNGA. The other outcome documents namely, a Global Digital Compact and the Declaration for Future Generations would be annexed to the Pact. India will continue to play an active role in this process, with an emphasis on a development-centric approach involving a Member States-led and owned process in which our priorities on UN reform and peace and security are advanced.

10. India’s priorities during 78th UNGA would be defined and guided by the above challenges, as well as India’s priorities, guided by our core foreign policy objectives, including supporting and enhancing overall domestic socio-economic growth, strengthening security in the immediate neighborhood, and leading collective global action, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

11. India will continue to engage on a wide range of issues ranging from political, socio-economic and cultural issues, terrorism, peacekeeping, human rights, legal matters, to budgetary issues. India shall continue to project its longstanding and growing credentials as a leading South-South development partner, especially in the context of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, Financing for Development and its leadership on climate change, including through the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)]. India’s approach and priorities in the 78th UNGA will also complement its initiatives as President of the G20 for 2023.

B. List of priority areas for India in 78th UNGA

12. An indicative list of priority issues for India during 78th UNGA are:

  • Maintain India’s active engagement as a leading voice on issues relating to sustainable development, financing for development, counter terrorism, reforming the multilateral system, and climate change.
  • Build synergies with outcomes of India’s G20 Presidency.
  • Strengthen engagement with fellow developing countries, especially LLDCs, LDCs and SIDS through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and IBSA Fund in the spirit of South-South cooperation.
  • Highlight India’s domestic achievements on SDGs, particularly poverty reduction, health and sanitation.v.Showcase India’s success story of digital transformation, leveraging the digital technologies for accelerating growth, development and achieving of sustainable development goals, and promote the usefulness of Indian digital solution as a "go for” model, particularly for the developing countries of the global south.
  • Bring India’s perspective to debates relating to human rights including the right to development, and continue to highlight India’s achievements in realizing the rights of different groups including women, children, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
  • Continue to showcase commitments and achievements in women-led development particularly women’s leadership and political participation at the grassroots level, promoting financial inclusion, prevention of sexual harassment and violence against women, providing access to clean cooking fuel, sanitation, safe drinking water and health coverage including maternal and child health etc.
  • Continue to advocate the need for expanding and diversifying global supply chains, particularly critical minerals and renewable energy, as well as vaccine production supply chains for economies to secure uninterrupted and affordable access to renewable energy, energy storage as well as equitably and affordable access to vaccines.
  • Continue to highlight the threat from cross border terrorism, including the increasing use of new and emerging technologies by terrorist groups, and need to address it through reform of the working methods of Sanctions regimes, mainstreaming of international AML/CFT standards to improve greater compliance of these standards by member states, and providing more direct budgetary resources to Office of Counter Terrorism for capacity building needs of member states.
  • Enhance Indian presence in Peace operations by meeting operational needs, promote and guide application of technology in peacekeeping Missions and strengthen the system for promoting accountability for crimes against Peacekeepers in line with Security Council Resolution 2589.
  • Take forward India’s pragmatic and constructive approach on disarmament issues at the First Committee and UN Disarmament Commission and engage with all partners on issues related to outer space, cyberspace etc.
  • Continue to pursue the issue of reform of the Security Council for a meaningful outcome in the 78th UNGA.
  • .Revitalization of the Non-Align Movement (NAM),
  • Continue efforts to further increase the visibility and footprint of the use of Hindi@UN project.
C. Developmental issues and climate action

13. 2030 Agenda: Strategies for a ‘New India’ and the country’s vision for 2030 are aligned with the spirit of achieving the 2030 Agenda. The various flagship programmes - Poshan Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat, Swacch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Skill India, Ujjwala Yojana, Rural Electrification program, Smart Cities Mission – directly address the challenges highlighted by the SDGs. The slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ mirrors the essence of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, of leaving no one behind. India’s G20 Presidency aims to deliver outcomes in areas of critical interest such as integrating the climate and development agenda and accelerating progress towards achieving the SDG 2030 mandate.

14. Localization of SDGs is at the core of India’s SDG implementation strategy. In the federal governance structure, the States play a pivotal role in designing, executing, and monitoring development policies and interventions. India’s success in adopting, implementing, and monitoring SDGs stands testimony to the principle of cooperative federalism. India’s premier think tank NITI Aayog has been entrusted with the task of coordinating the SDGs, mapping schemes related to the SDGs and their targets, and identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target. The Indian model of SDG localization, built on partnerships and engagements with the subnational entities – the states and Union Territories, has facilitated faster SDG achievements, which can be emulated by the developing countries. A special side-session highlighting the "Indian Model of SDG Localisation” during 2022 HLPF was a huge success. India stands ready to share best practices and experiences with partner countries as we reach halfway mark towards the 2030 Agenda. The 2nd SDG Summit will be held on 18-19 September 2023, at the halfway mark of the Agenda 2030 that was adopted in 2015. The HOS/HOG summit is held on the sidelines of UNGA78 High Level Week. India will highlight its achievements and share its developmental experience in appropriate forums during the High-Level Week.

15. South-South Cooperation: India has considerable experience in South-South Cooperation, bilaterally as well as through collaboration with the UN. India has set up a US$ 150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund, managed by UNOSSC. The Fund continues to support South-owned and South-led sustainable development projects with a focus on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. In six years, the Fund has accumulated a portfolio of 75 projects in 56 countries. The Fund’s thematic reach spans all 17 SDGs and has a strong focus on many of the global issues of the day and their impact on developing countries. These include climate resilience, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, gender equality, health and pandemic response, education and skills, livelihoods, infrastructure, water and sanitation, and agricultural development. The IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger also hosted at the UNOSSC is another unique mechanism for South-South Cooperation. India actively participated in the 5th UN Conference on LDCs held in Doha, Qatar in March 2023. India is a co-chair of the Group of Friends of LLDCs. We will continue to underline our commitment in fostering development partnerships with the Global South.

16. Financing for Development: The Addis Ababa Action Agenda aligns domestic & international resource flows, policies and international agreements with economic, social and environmental priorities. The annual ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum) is an intergovernmental process mandated to discuss the follow-up and re-view of the financing for development outcomes and the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We will continue to contribute to this effort. India has undertaken critical reforms to addressing financing gaps by leveraging private sector investment in infrastructure, small businesses, and the green finance markets, including by setting up a new Development Financial Institution called the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development.

17. Eradication of Poverty: One of the long-term effects of the pandemic and ongoing conflicts will be that millions of people will be pushed into extreme poverty. India is implementing a comprehensive development strategy to end poverty in all its forms, through accelerated economic growth and broader social safety nets. As per the second edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index, published in July 2023 by NITI Aayog 135 million people escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21 in India. The country registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in India’s multidimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021. The rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty, from 32.59% to 19.28%. We will continue to focus on poverty eradication at the 78th session and share our best practices and experience.

18. The 78th session of the UNGA will open just a week after the G20 Summit in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023 and therefore would be an important platform to highlight the outcomes of India’s G20 Presidency. Key documents including the G20 High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy, the G20 High Level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustain-able Development and most crucially the G20 2023 Action Plan To Accelerate Progress On The SDGs could be presented in the framework of advancing UN processes on climate, environment and SDGs.

19. Focus on Water: The 78th session would see continued increased focus on Water in the context of the UN Water Conference of March 2023 that was convened to take concerted action to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets. A Resolution on Water is being pursued by the Netherlands and Tajikistan, with support from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Egypt, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland, with the aim of setting the stage for at least two more water related conferences before 2030. There is also a discussion on the possibility of having a UN-wide Water Strategy.

20. India is a leader in Climate Action. Great momentum in this regard was added with launch of the "Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)” initiative, by the Prime Minister and the UNSG in October 2022. Mission LiFE envisions making individual behavior change the centre of the climate action narrative and sustainable lifestyles a global mass movement, thus inviting measurable and scalable behavior change solutions to drive climate-friendly actions amongst individuals and communities.

21. India is one of the few countries that have delivered on its climate action commitments and increasing use of renewable energy going forward. India is also making all efforts towards collective action and building partnerships in the spirit of SDG17 to strengthen climate action. Some of these global initiatives include the International Solar Alliance, the Leadership Group on Industry Transition and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. We remain committed to continuing on the path of ambitious climate action to achieve greener transition for achieving Agenda 2030. Under its G20 Presidency, India has made efforts to focus on the need to expand and diversify critical minerals and renewable energy supply chains for economies to secure uninterrupted and affordable access to renewable energy and energy storage, both prerequisites for the overall transition to net-zero emission.

22. The Global Digital Compact is launched as an initiative aimed at harnessing the power of digital technologies to advance sustainable development, protect environment and promote human rights. The Compact would provide a framework for stakeholders across the globe to come together and work towards a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital future. The stakeholders’ discussions were held in recent months, and a Global Digital Compact would be negotiated subsequently. India would be pushing for a Compact that focuses on key areas, where action is needed to promote an inclusive digital economy and literacy, access to digital networks and connectivity, capacity building and technology transfer, investment in digital infrastructures, data protection, data governance, artificial intelligence, avoiding Internet division and fragmentation, countering the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation and to outline shared principles for a digital future for all to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

D. Human Rights and Social Issues

23. On the sidelines of the 78th UNGA high level week, the UN General Assembly will convene three High-Level Meetings on health in New York in September 2023. These present a historic opportunity for world leaders to place health back on the high-level political agenda as they recommit to ending tuberculosis (TB), delivering universal health coverage (UHC) and strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. India will participate in these high-level dialogues, share its experience and success stories.

24. During the 78th session of the General Assembly, we expect intense negotiations on issues such as women’s sexual and reproductive rights, human rights defenders, safety of journalists, internally displaced persons, rights of indigenous people and other issues such as references to sexual harassment, sexual orientation and gender identity, comprehensive sexual education, violence, torture and role of family. India would continue to play a constructive and balancing role on all women-related matters considering India’s emphasis on women-led development and protection and promotion of women’s rights in implementation of SDGs. India would continue to play a constructive and balancing role on all women-related matters considering India’s emphasis on women-led development and protection and promotion of women’s rights and their central role in implementation of SDGs. India will continue its close cooperation with developing countries including in the framework of G77 and NAM on social development issues.

25. On the Human Rights front, India will continue to emphasize that discussions on Human Rights at the UN should be held with a constructive approach and the human rights processes at the UN should emphasize on dialogue, cooperation, transparency and non-selectivity in the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone. The focus of the Human Rights Council, the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Special Rapporteurs and the entire Treaty Body mechanisms must be to strengthen the capabilities of national governments in their efforts towards promotion and protection of human rights. India had, in November 2022, presented its fourth Universal Periodic Review on its implementation of various human rights conventions in Geneva, and the outcome of the Review was adopted by the Human Rights Council in March 2023.

26. ‘Culture of Peace’ is an agenda under the plenary. There is an annual debate on the item as well as around 5-6 resolutions are adopted under the agenda. Currently, negotiations on a draft resolution sponsored by Morocco on "Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech” is being negotiated and may come up for adoption. During the negotiations of these resolutions, we have objected to the use of selective listing of religions (Islamophobia, Christianphobia and anti-Semitism) and ensured that the listing was not present in the adopted texts of resolutions, rather a general language was used instead. We would continue to object to use of selective listing of religions in the 78th session. We have called upon the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for greater inclusivity in the dialogue process to ensure that the inter-religious dialogue is broad-based and encompasses all faiths and not be selective. We would continue to impress that the Alliance should not be used as a platform for divisive political rhetoric and must focus on issues that unite us rather than on those that divide us.

27. Commission for Social Development, a functional commission of ECOSOC, is the advisory body responsible for the social development pillar of global development. It is the key United Nations body in charge of the follow up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995. The 62nd session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development will take place from 5 to 14 February 2024 on the priority theme "Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”. India was elected as the Chair of the 62nd session of the Commission for Social Development on 15 February 2023. We can use this platform to highlight our national policies and programs focused on inclusive growth, in line with SDGs, and directed towards realization of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ [Self-reliant India].

28. India is a member of Commission on the Status of Women, a functional commission of UN ECOSOC, is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Commission takes a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities. The 68th session of the Commission will take place in March 2024 on the priority theme "Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and financing with a gender perspective”. Given our leadership role towards gender equality and women empowerment, we would focus on the role of women in strengthening financial institutions and poverty reduction actions and continue to play an active role in negotiating concise and forward-looking sets of recommendations for gender equality and women empowerment in the next session.

29. Bi-annual resolutions on ‘Right of Child’, ‘Girl Child’, ‘Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’, ‘Violence against women migrant workers’ and ‘Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas’ would be some of the important resolutions coming up for adoption in the Third Committee in the next session. Other resolutions expected in the Third Committee would cover subjects like trafficking, drugs and crimes, disability, development of youth, water and sanitation, strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization. There would also be five country-specific resolutions on DPRK, Iran, Syria, Myanmar and Ukraine.

30. Commission on Population and Development, a functional commission of ECOSOC, assists and advises ECOSOC on population issues and trends, population and development strategies, policies and programmes, and provides population assistance to developing countries. The Commission plays primary role in the follow-up to the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) by monitoring, reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international levels. The 57th session of the Commission will take place from 29 April to 03 May 2024 on the priority theme "Assessing the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and its contribution to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.

31. India is a member of the Committee on NGOs of the ECOSOC which is the intergovernmental body responsible for granting consultative status with ECOSOC to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Committee (19-member body) meets twice a year and reviews the applications submitted by NGOs. After the session, the Committee submits its recommendations to ECOSOC for adoption and grant of consultative status to NGOs recommended by the Committee. As of December 2022, 6,343 NGOs enjoy active consultative status with ECOSOC. While supporting the role of civil society in the working of the UN, we will continue to scrutinize the applications by NGOs thoroughly with an aim to prevent misuse of the status by dubious NGOs.

E. Decolonization

32. India was the co-sponsor of the landmark 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly, which proclaimed the need to unconditionally end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations. In 1962, India was elected as the first chair of the Decolonization Committee (Committee of 24) that was established to monitor implementation of the 1960 Declaration and to make recommendations on its application. India continues to be an active member of the Committee. India believes that pursuing a pragmatic approach towards decolonization would lead to fulfillment of legitimate wishes of the people of Non-Self Governing Territories. India remains committed to the objective of Decolonization and offers firm support to further accelerate the process.

F. Disarmament and non-proliferation

33. India is steadfast in its commitment to the goal of universal, non- discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. As a responsible nuclear weapon State, India is committed as per its nuclear doctrine, to maintain credible minimum deterrence with the posture of no-first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon States. Without diminishing the priority we attach to nuclear disarmament, India supports the immediate commencement of negotiations in the CD of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein, which remains the most suitable basis for negotiations to commence, as reinforced by the outcomes of the GGE on FMCT as well as the High-Level Expert Preparatory Group on FMCT.

34. India attaches very high importance to the CWC and supports all efforts to strengthen the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to enable it to fulfill its mandate within the framework of the Convention.

35. India has been consistent in expressing concerns on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, which endangers international peace and security. There is also a growing concern in the international community about the possibility of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Through its annual Resolution at the UNGA, titled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction", India has been drawing the attention of the world towards these threats and the need to strengthen international cooperation to address them. India will continue pursue this agenda during 78th UNGA.

36. As a developing country and a major space-faring nation, India has vital interests in space activities and technologies that contribute considerably to the rapid economic and social development. India has a significant space programme and a well-established framework for international cooperation. India is also a party to major international treaties and conventions relating to outer space activities such as the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue Agreement, Liability Convention and the Registration Convention. India believes that Outer Space should remain an ever-expanding frontier of cooperative endeavour rather than conflict. India will continue to contribute constructively to the discussions under the Open Ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats through norms, rules and principles of Responsible Behaviours to further promote and develop common understandings during UNGA 78.

37. Cyberspace is facing an increasing number of challenges in the form of threats and its use for criminal and terrorist purposes. Incidents involving the malicious use of ICTs by States and non-State actors have increased in scope, scale, severity and sophistication. While ICT threats manifest differently across regions, their effects are global and pose a significant risk to international security and stability, economic and social development, as well as the safety and well-being of individuals. Recognising the disparity in cyber preparedness among Member States to tackle various cyber threats and the need to enhance their cyber capabilities, India had proposed the development of a "Global Cyber Security Cooperation Portal” (GCSCP), anchored at the United Nations, as a global platform for international cooperation and coordination amongst Member States on security of cyber infrastructure and improving cyber capabilities. India will pursue the establishment of this portal along with like-minded countries during UNGA 78 under the auspices of the United Nations in the form of Open-Ended Working Group on security in the use of information and communication technologies 2021–2025.

G. Peacekeeping

38. India is proud of its long and rich tradition of contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. India has contributed more than 270,000 troops in 52 Missions over the years, cumulatively the largest from any country. UN peacekeepers today operate in a complex security environment involving armed groups, non-state actors and terrorists. The ever-expanding mandates of peacekeeping missions with limited resources has only added to the challenges and complexities that peacekeepers face on the ground. The strategy of peacekeepers needing to do more with less, is setting peacekeeping missions towards a potential crisis. Peacekeeping missions cannot be a long-term response to what are fundamentally political problems.

39. Against this background, India will work with other troop and police contributing countries towards reducing the burden on peacekeepers with responsibilities which ought to primarily lie with the host state or other relevant international organizations.

40. India will seek to improve host state capabilities, especially in security institutions, so as to enable host states to discharge their responsibilities towards protection of civilians and safety and security of Peacekeepers. India will seek to guide the responsible introduction of technology in Peacekeeping Missions with a view to provide maximum benefit to Peacekeepers and local populace.

41. India will contribute significantly to the overall effort to maximise use of renewable energy in Peacekeeping Operations, and will seek to assist other TCCs in doing so as well. We will also endeavour to meet the logisitcal and equipment needs of other troop contributing countries and host states through provision of high quality, affordable indigenously manufactured equipment.

42. The UNGA had adopted a Resolution to build a Memorial Wall for Fallen Peacekeepers during its 77th Session. In the upcoming session, India will cooperate with the Secretariat and like-minded member states with a view to ensure that a suitable Memorial wall is established efficiently.

43. Finally, India will continue to advocate authorization of carefully thought-out mandates to peacekeepers in close consultation with troop contributing countries.

H. Counter Terrorism

44. India has always been at the forefront of global counter terrorism efforts. In 1996, long before the adoption of Resolution 1373, India took the initiative to pilot the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism with the objective of providing a comprehensive legal framework to combating terrorism. India has signed and ratified all the major conventions and protocols on terrorism adopted by the UN and is part of all major global initiatives in that regard.

45. The Security Council and its subsidiary bodies such as the Counter Terrorism Committee and various sanctions committees, including ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions committee plays an important role in preventing and countering the threat of terrorism to international peace and security. The Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) is an umbrella organization under the mandate of the General Assembly to coordinate efforts of various UN bodies which contribute to the capacity building needs of member states. India continues to advocate for strengthening the counter terrorism architecture of the United Nations.

46. India supports the capacity building efforts of the United Nations, led by the UNOCT and has been providing financial support to its two global programs on countering financing of terrorism (CFT) and countering terrorist travel program (CTTP). India actively engages the UNOCT, its periodical meetings to member states, as well as biennial meeting, "the Conference of the Heads of CT Agencies of Member States”, held during the Counter Terrorism week. India participated in 3rd CT Week held from 19-23 June.

47. In recent years, terrorist groups and lone wolf attackers have significantly enhanced their capabilities by gaining access to new and emerging technologies, including drones, virtual currencies and encrypted communications. Social media networks have contributed to the radicalization and recruitment of youth. As Chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee of the Security Council, India organized a Special Meeting of the Committee in Mumbai and New Delhi on 28-29 October 2022 focusing on the increasing threat posed by the misuse of new and emerging technologies. The Delhi Declaration adopted by the Committee has mandated the Committee to develop a set of guiding principles for member states to help them counter this threat. On June 22, 2023, India organized a side-event on the issue, on the sideline of the 3rd UN CT Week, highlighting the need for implementing the provisions of the Delhi Declaration. We will continue to follow up on this aspect in the 78th session.

48. The Global Counterterrorism Strategy (GCTS), first adopted in 2006 and reviewed every two years provides normative framework for the UN’s approach to counterterrorism. The 8th review of the Strategy was held in April-June 2023, and was concluded with adoption of the resolution on 22 June 2023. India disassociated from the text, due to partial and un-transparent approach of the co-facilitators. However, India will continue to engage the UNOCT and other agencies, and would continue to work like minded countries to advance India’s counter terrorism priorities, particularly in light of the 8-point action plan to the international community in the fight against terrorism, proposed by EAM in 2021, while addressing the Security Council, which include: i) Summon the political will: don’t justify terrorism, don’t glorify terrorists, ii) No double standards. Terrorists are terrorists; distinctions are made only at our own peril, iii) Don’t place blocks and holds on listing requests without any reason, iv) Discourage exclusivist thinking and be on guard against new terminologies and false priorities, v) Enlist and delist objectively, not on political or religious considerations, vi) Recognize the linkage to organized crime, vii) Support and strengthen the FATF, and viii) Provide greater funding to the UN Office of Counter Terrorism.

49. India will continue to pursue implementation of the above priorities in the 78th UNGA and work with other like-minded member states to end the stalemate preventing the adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

I. UN Reforms

50. The reforms of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council will continue to be one of the top priorities for India during the 77th UNGA. Towards this end, India will continue to pursue the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process in a purposeful manner to initiate text-based negotiations to be conducted with an overall objective of achieving concrete outcomes in a fixed time-frame. India has been according highest priority to obtain a permanent membership for India in an expanded United Nations Security Council. India has undertaken various initiatives aimed at building international support for India’s permanent membership. Along with the developing country platform of the L.69 group, India will be meeting at the Ministerial level to (on the sidelines of 78th UNGA) to strengthen efforts towards urgent and comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

51. In addition, the G4 countries (India, Japan, Germany and Brazil) would also be meeting on the margins of the 78th UNGA to reiterate their focus on the expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to make it reflective of contemporary realities.

52. The revitalization of NAM remains a long-term priority, especially in view of India's own historic role in its creation and our continued efforts to lead the bloc of developing countries. Over the years, however, NAM as a group is seen to be losing its stature as the prominent voice of the Global South. It would be our goal to help in raising the profile of the NAM and to maintain NAM solidarity in the face of growing external pressure that has often divided its membership. NAM needs to ensure its focus on contemporary issues of core concern to the developing world like climate change, post COVID economic recovery, reformed multilateralism and solutions to the food, fertilizer and energy crisis. There is also need to improve the working methods of NAM so that it becomes a more transparent, open, rules- based and consensus - driven organisation. NAM also needs to adhere firmly by the Bandung Founding Principles and avoid straying into bilateral disputes. The role of India as the founding member of NAM, would be to ensure that the organisation retains its strategic identity and unique space in the rapidly changing multipolar world order.