Discourse on Good Governance and Human Rights
10 July 2023
[Discussion led by H.E. Mr. Bharat Lal, Director General, National Centre for Good Governance and Secretary General-designate, National Human Rights Commission of India.]
Honorable H.E. Mr. Bharat Lal, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey,
distinguished guests,
esteemed colleagues,
ladies and gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today on behalf of the United Nations at this distinguished gathering organized by the Permanent Mission of India. Today’s discourse on “Good Governance and Human Rights” is not only timely but also crucial in shaping the path we tread as a global community. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Mr. Bharat Lal for leading this discourse and my good friend Ambassador Mani Pandey for inviting me.
Good governance is the linchpin for realizing human rights in its fullest sense. It is through good governance that we can ensure that human rights are not mere words on paper, but tangible aspects that can be experienced by individuals and communities in their daily lives. Furthermore, as the world grapples with a cascading crises of economic shocks, climate change, pandemic, and fragmenting international cooperation, good governance becomes indispensable in fostering sustainable and inclusive development. As I have said before in several events I have attended these last days, there is simply no room and no time left for bad decisions and wasted opportunities.
The United Nations, since its inception, has been committed to the preservation and promotion of human rights. This commitment is mirrored in the Constitution of India and in the aspirations of its people. Both the UN and India understand the nexus between good governance and human rights. For development to be sustainable and inclusive, it must also be just and equitable.
In recent years, we have witnessed a transformative force emerging in the form of digital technologies. These technologies hold the potential to radically improve governance and, in turn, human rights. Digital tools can enhance transparency, expedite public services, and give voice to those who have long remained unheard.
However, If technology, if not governed with care, can become an instrument for the infringement of privacy, dissemination of misinformation, and perpetuation of inequality. It is essential that as we embrace digitalization, we must also embed the principles of good governance within it. This is a very clear case were good governance and human rights and interlinked.
India, in particular, has been at the forefront of using digital technologies to improve governance. Programs such as Aadhaar and Digital India are living examples of how technology can be leveraged to streamline governance and facilitate development. Also, India’s Stack Programme for digital public infrastructures has been able to formalize its economy, adding almost 9 million new taxpayers in the last five years and it has also been able to make digital payments almost universal, with digital transactions now making almost 70% of all transaction volume; it has been able to open almost 500 million bank accounts in both urban and rural areas; and has been able to lower data costs by ninety per cent (90%).
These endeavors not only bolster economic growth and developments but also empower individuals, especially those at the grassroots, to exercise their human rights.
This is a clear example of how through governance and policy we can harness “data for development” as a tool to find solutions for the most pressing problems people face that are at the same time the problem that vulnerate basic needs and human rights when not addressed properly putting again on the table the indivisibility of human rights.
This year, UNCTAD has had the immense privilege of traveling repeatedly to India, to participate in the many G20 meetings it has hosted. There, we have seen firsthand the incredible pace and scale of development in India, as well as the hope of its people. The fact that in the middle of this fast-paced growth, India has found the time and the pause to set up a discussion like the one we are having right now, is something that is extremely significant and commendable.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends:
I want to close with a saying, from one of India’s oldest sages: Chanakya, the famous polymath who lived almost two thousand, five hundred years ago.
Chanakya said: "The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions."
This quote speaks to the essence of ethical leadership and good governance. Chanakya was known for his wisdom in statecraft, and here he highlights the far-reaching impact of integrity and righteousness in leadership.
In the context of good governance and human rights, this quote serves as a reminder that the positive actions and policies of those in positions of governance have the potential to transcend boundaries and impact society at large. Unlike the fragrance of flowers, which is limited by the direction of the wind, the impact of good governance is never constrained.
As we reflect on the role of governance in the protection and promotion of human rights, let us remember Chanakya’s wisdom. The goodness, fairness, and justice embodied in governance have the power to spread in all directions, creating societies where human dignity is upheld, and sustainable development is achieved for all.
Thank you.
