India abstains from voting on UNGA resolution on goods used for capital punishment, torture

India has abstained from voting on a General Assembly resolution aimed at examining options to end trade in goods used for capital punishment and torture, saying it is unacceptable to place death penalty on par with torture.

The 193-member UN General Assembly Friday adopted the resolution Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards' by a recorded vote of 81 in favour to 20 against, with 44 abstentions.

By the draft's terms, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility and possible scope of a range of options to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for "capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
India abstained from voting on the resolution, with First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Paulomi Tripathi, in the explanation of vote, saying that incorporating capital punishment into the scope of this resolution "raises concerns that it may be an attempt to place it on par with torture."
"We firmly believe that freedom from torture is a human right which must be respected and protected under all circumstances."
She asserted that India strongly believes that torture is a crime and "therefore, unlawful."