The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has concluded its fifth training programme for human rights officials from countries in the Global South. Held in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, the six-day initiative brought together senior staff from national human rights bodies across 14 nations to share expertise and strengthen institutional capacity.
What happened and who attended
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme ran from 14 to 19 September 2026 in New Delhi. It drew 38 senior officials representing national human rights institutions from Algeria, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Samoa, South Africa, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe.
The programme featured sessions on civil, political, socio-economic and cultural rights. Speakers included NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, government officials, the UN Resident Coordinator for India, academics from AIIMS, and social sector leaders. Participants also visited Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal as part of the programme.
According to NHRC Joint Secretary Shri Samir Kumar, this marks the fifth such capacity-building effort under ITEC. Over the course of these programmes, nearly 200 representatives from 46 countries have participated in similar training initiatives.
What this means for you
If you work in human rights advocacy or governance in South Asian or African countries, these ITEC programmes offer a channel to learn from India’s experience managing human rights frameworks within a diverse democracy. The NHRC’s emphasis on creating a formal collaboration platform among Global South institutions suggests future opportunities for ongoing exchange and coordinated action on shared human rights challenges. For Indian citizens interested in how their country engages internationally on human rights matters, this programme demonstrates the practical diplomacy and institutional partnerships that advance these conversations.