Culture and peace - UNAOC Resolution and India’s Concerns
iasparliament
December 07, 2020
Why in news?
At a UNGA session on 'Culture of Peace', India raised concerns over UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) resolutions.
India criticised the UNAOC for what it called “selectivity” in seeking to protect Abrahamic religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - over others.
What is the UNAOC?
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was established in 2005.
It came as a political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General.
It was co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Turkey.
A High-Level Group of experts was formed by Mr. Annan to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures today.
The Report of the High-Level Group provided analysis and put forward practical recommendations.
This form the basis for the implementation plan of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
What were India’s arguments at the recent session?
The Indian delegate pointed out the previous resolutions of the UNAOC dating back to 2006.
The resolutions had repeatedly criticized the hatred against Abrahamic religions - “Islamophobia, Christianophobia and anti-Semitism.”
But they had not condemned the attacks on other religious groups including Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
These have notably suffered terror strikes and seen their shrines destroyed in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In particular, India said, the UNGA statement welcomed the Kartarpur Gurudwara corridor agreement between India and Pakistan.
But the UNGA failed to note that Pakistan’s government has taken over the management of the Sikh shrine.
India called this a contravention of the agreement and a violation of Sikh beliefs.
India’s delegate also accused Pakistan of a “culture of hatred” against “religions in India” and fostering cross-border terrorism.
India emphasized that a culture of peace could not exist until this was changed.
How valid are India’s concerns?
India’s concerns that UN resolutions portray only three religions as victims of religious hatred are completely valid.
It is important that they are broadened to include every community that faces religion-based violence.
It is also important that India thwarts Pakistan’s attempts to create a controversy against India by pushing these resolutions as India steps to take its two-year seat at the UN Security Council.
New Delhi has been concerned by an increase in intrusive language from the UN bodies concerned as well.
The UNAOC issued a statement of “grave concern” over the Delhi riots in February 2020 that it said resulted in casualties of “mostly Muslims”.
India is keen to oppose the UNAOC and other UN arms, like the UNHRC, that have criticised the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
What is the need for caution?
The Indian government must be careful about ensuring that in exposing the UN’s “selectivity” it doesn’t leave scope for a counter-charge against India.
For example, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has been criticised for offering fast-track citizenship to only a select group of religions, leaving out Muslims.
India cannot call for a culture of peace while Indian States bring laws that seek to make difficult inter-faith marriages.
In all, India’s stance against the UN bodies gains force from its own secular credentials enshrined in the Constitution.
It is high time that India preserves its own secular ideals and pluralistic ethos.
