NHRC India participates in First Consultative Meeting of NHRIs of SCO Member States in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

📌 Summary:

• NHRC India, led by Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, participated virtually in the First Consultative Meeting of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and State Bodies of SCO Member States, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan under the Kyrgyz SCO Chairmanship
• Attended by the Kyrgyz Ombudsperson, the SCO Deputy Secretary-General, and NHRIs from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belarus
• Justice Ramasubramanian called the regular consultative mechanism "timely and forward-looking"; stressed respect for state sovereignty, non-interference and equality; welcomed the draft protocol on information exchange, best practices and expert cooperation
• Highlighted NHRC India's ITEC Capacity Building Programme for NHRIs and the value of structured cross-border learning

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR (SCO) and governance — role of human-rights institutions in regional cooperation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SCO 2025-26 Chairmanship is held by the Kyrgyz Republic
• NHRC India Chairperson: Justice V. Ramasubramanian
• ITEC = Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme

🔑 Key Term: NHRI — National Human Rights Institution (e.g., NHRC), an independent body to protect and promote human rights as per the Paris Principles.