The six-day Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of the Global South successfully concluded in New Delhi. The programme was organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The valedictory session was addressed by NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, in the presence of Joint Secretaries, Shri Samir Kumar and Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak and other senior officers.

The programme, which began on 14th September 2026, witnessed participation of 38 senior functionaries from 14 NHRIs of Algeria, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Samoa, South Africa, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe. It included interactive sessions with eminent persons and domain experts in which participants were introduced to various aspects of civil and political rights as well as socio-economic and cultural rights.

The speakers included NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Secretary General, Shri Piyush Goyal, Director General (Investigation), Smt. Anupama Nilekar Chandra, UN Resident Coordinator, India, Mr. Stefan Priesner, NHRC, India Joint Secretary, Shri Samir Kumar, Former Secretary, Govt. of India, Smt. Bhamathi Balasubramaniam, Prof. (Dr.) Vartika Nanda, Indian Prison Reformer & Founder, Tinka Tinka Foundation, Prof. (Dr.) Pratap Sharan, Head of Psychiatry Department, AIIMS, Dr.Purva Mittal, NHRC, India Special Monitor and Shri Chandra Mishra, Founder, Beggar Corporation. The programme was also enriched by the experiences shared by functionaries of various NHRIs.

In his closing remarks, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants for their camaraderie and positive energy during the programme. He said the Capacity-Building Programme goes beyond explaining international human rights instruments, as their practical application varies according to the historical, cultural, social and economic contexts of different countries. Drawing an analogy from science, he said that NHRIs work in the “laboratory” of human rights, where sharing experiences, addressing challenges and learning from mistakes contribute to institutional learning and improvement.

Justice Ramasubramanian expressed appreciation for the active participation of the delegates and emphasised the importance of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding among NHRIs in advancing human dignity, peace and mutual respect. He also acknowledged the need for stronger cooperation among NHRIs of the Global South and formalising a common platform for collaboration.

The participants lauded NHRC, India and MEA for organising this programme. They appreciated the opportunity to learn about various aspects of human rights, good governance and the Indian ethos of respecting human rights in a democracy with diverse social, cultural, religious and linguistic identities. The participants also got the opportunity to visit iconic places like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Red Fort and TajMahal to have an immersive experience of India’s rich cultural heritage.

NHRC, India Joint Secretary, Shri Samir Kumar presented an overview of the training programme, noting that participants from 46 countries and nearly 200 representatives from various NHRIs have been part of this initiative. He emphasised the need for a nuanced approach while upholding the universality of human rights and appreciated the participants’ active engagement and valuable exchange of knowledge and experiences throughout the programme.

 

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