Date: 2026-06-23Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India participates in the First Consultative Meeting of NHRIs, State Bodies and other organisations of SCO Member States responsible for the protection of human rights and freedoms held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
**Executive Summary**
On 23 June 2026, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, participated virtually in the first consultative meeting of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and state bodies of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting aimed to establish a framework for regional cooperation, dialogue, and the exchange of best practices in human rights protection. Key outcomes include the proposal for a regular consultative mechanism and the highlight of NHRC’s ITEC Capacity Building Programme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regional Cooperation and Dialogue**
* The meeting serves as a timely initiative to address contemporary socio-economic and geo-political challenges through meaningful dialogue.
* Regional cooperation must be guided by principles of state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and mutual consideration of national interests.
* A proposal was made to transform this consultative meeting into a regular platform for exchange among institutions dedicated to human rights and freedoms.
**Capacity Building and Best Practices**
* NHRC, India highlighted its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Capacity Building Programme designed for NHRIs.
* Justice V. Ramasubramanian suggested holding regular seminars, training programmes, and interactions in online, offline, and hybrid modes.
* The meeting welcomed a draft protocol focused on information exchange, dissemination of best practices, and coordinated approaches to human rights issues.
**Institutional Experience and Impact**
* NHRC, India shared its extensive experience in handling nearly 2.37 million cases of human rights violations over the past 32 years.
* Participating institutions from SCO member states (including Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus) possess diverse experiences that can benefit the group through sustained engagement.
* The role of NHRIs was emphasized as critical for strengthening trust between the State and society while fostering social stability.
**Impact Analysis**
**NHRC, India**
**Impact:** Positioned as a key regional leader and resource provider through its long-standing institutional experience and ITEC training programmes.
**Action Required:** Continue to provide technical expertise and lead capacity-building initiatives for other SCO member states.
**SCO Member States (NHRIs and State Bodies)**
**Impact:** They gain a structured platform for mutual learning and a coordinated framework to address human rights violations.
**Action Required:** Participate in regular consultative exchanges and implement the objectives of the draft protocol regarding information sharing.
**Kyrgyz Republic (SCO Chairmanship)**
**Impact:** Acknowledged for leadership in convening the first consultative meeting and initiating the regional human rights discourse.
**Action Required:** Facilitate the evolution of the consultative meeting into a durable and practical framework for regional cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India: The primary Indian statutory body participating in the international consultation for the protection of human rights and freedoms.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): The international organization whose member states convened the first consultative meeting to establish a regional human rights cooperation framework.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Capacity Building Programme: An initiative highlighted by NHRC India to strengthen institutional capacities of National Human Rights Institutions through structured learning and cross-border engagement.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian: Chairperson of NHRC who led the Indian delegation and proposed the creation of a durable framework for regional human rights cooperation.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: The central location where the First Consultative Meeting of NHRIs and organisations of SCO Member States was held.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India participates in the First Consultative
Meeting of NHRIs, State Bodies and other
organisations of SCO Member States
responsible for the protection of human rights
and freedoms held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian lauds it as a timely
initiative for the human rights discourse in the region
Highlights NHRC, India’s ITEC Capacity Building Programme
for NHRIs and the value of structured learning, dialogue and
cross-border engagement in strengthening institutional
capacities
प्रव तथ: 23 JUN 2026 7:39PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India led by the Chairperson, Justice V.
Ramasubramanian today participated virtually in the First Consultative Meeting of National Human
Rights Institutions, State Bodies and other Organisations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Member States responsible for the protection of human rights and freedoms held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz
Republic. NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal and Joint Secretary, Shri Samir Kumar were
present. The meeting was attended by the Ombudsperson of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Deputy Secretary-
General of the SCO, Chairpersons and Heads of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and other
relevant bodies from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belarus, along
with distinguished delegates and experts.Addressing the meeting, Justice Ramasubramanian commended the Kyrgyz Republic for its leadership in
convening the first consultative meeting under its SCO Chairmanship. He said that the proposal for
regular consultative interaction among NHRIs and related bodies is both timely and forward-looking. It
would promote meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding and practical cooperation in addressing
contemporary socio-economic and geo-political challenges. He emphasised that NHRIs play an important
role in strengthening trust between the State and society and fostering social stability.
He underscored that regional cooperation should be guided by the principles of respect for State
sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual consideration of national interests. He
welcomed the objectives contained in the draft protocol relating to the exchange of information,
dissemination of best practices, expert cooperation and development of coordinated approaches to human
rights issues. He noted that regular exchanges among institutions would facilitate mutual learning and
enhance institutional effectiveness.Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted NHRC’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)
Capacity Building Programme for NHRIs and the value of structured learning, dialogue and cross-border
engagement in strengthening institutional capacities.
He reaffirmed NHRC India’s support for deeper cooperation within the SCO framework and expressed
confidence that the consultative mechanism would evolve into an important platform for dialogue,
cooperation and exchange of experiences among institutions dedicated to the promotion and protection of
human rights and freedoms.
Addressing a session on prospects for consultative cooperation within the SCO on the lines of existing
judicial cooperation mechanisms, Justice Ramasubramanian suggested that NHRIs could hold regular
seminars, training programmes and interactions in online, offline and hybrid modes to facilitate the
sharing of best practices. He highlighted that NHRC, India, established in 1993, has dealt with nearly 2.37
million cases of human rights violations over the past 32 years, providing valuable institutional experience
that could be shared with other member States. He added that institutions across SCO member States
possess rich experiences from which all could benefit through sustained engagement.
He expressed hope that the first consultative meeting would lay the foundation for a durable and practical
framework for regional human rights cooperation based on mutual respect, exchange of experiences and a
shared commitment to human dignity.
*****
NSK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2277203) आगंतुक पटल : 321
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही