India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) TS Tirumurti on Tuesday said that the country will be a voice for the developing world and against the enemies of humanity like terrorism during its tenure on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), reported PTI.

India began its tenure as a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UNSC for the 2021-22 term on January 1.

“India comes into the Security Council as the largest democracy representing 1/6th of humanity and with a strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, rule of law, a fair and equitable international system and to peace, security and development. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we stand united as one, bound by our ethos of democracy, pluralism and commitment to fundamental rights,” Tirumurti said.

Also read: As non-permanent member of UNSC, India to begin its two-year tenure Friday

“We will use our tenure to bring human-centric and inclusive solutions to matters of international peace and security. India will be a voice for the developing world,” he added.

“We will not shy away from raising our voice against the common enemies of humanity like terrorism,” he said, adding that India looks forward to “our collective pursuit for an ideal where the World is One Family – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.” 

Tirumurti also expressed gratitude to all the member states of the UN who “have given us an overwhelming mandate” to represent them in the Security Council.

India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico joined non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, UK and the US in the Council for 2021.

India will be UNSC President in August 2021 and will preside over the Council again for a month in 2022. The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member states’ names.