The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India 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 on June 23, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian and included Secretary General Shri Bharat Lal and Joint Secretary Shri Samir Kumar.
Justice Ramasubramanian commended the Kyrgyz Republic for its leadership in convening this first consultative meeting under its SCO Chairmanship, describing the proposal for regular consultative interaction among NHRIs as both timely and forward-looking. He emphasized that regional cooperation should be guided by principles of respect for State sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and mutual consideration of national interests. The Chairperson welcomed the draft protocol objectives relating to information exchange, dissemination of best practices, expert cooperation, and development of coordinated approaches to human rights issues.
Highlighting NHRC's institutional experience, Justice Ramasubramanian noted that the commission has handled nearly 2.37 million cases of human rights violations over its 32 years of operation since establishment in 1993. He specifically mentioned NHRC's Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Capacity Building Programme for NHRIs, emphasizing the value of structured learning, dialogue, and cross-border engagement in strengthening institutional capacities. He suggested that NHRIs could hold regular seminars, training programs, and interactions in online, offline, and hybrid modes to facilitate sharing of best practices.
The meeting was attended by the Ombudsperson of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO, and representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Justice Ramasubramanian expressed hope that this first consultative meeting would establish a durable and practical framework for regional human rights cooperation based on mutual respect, experience exchange, and shared commitment to human dignity.