Rising Powers and Human Rights: The India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum at the UN Human Rights Council

In the official declarations of the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA), the three states claim a shared understanding of human rights and a deep commitment to the international promotion and protection of these rights. This article considers these two propositions in light of the actions of the IBSA states on the United Nations Human Rights Council. After examining the positions of the IBSA states on seven controversial country-specific cases (Belarus, Darfur and Sudan, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Sri Lanka, and Syria) and four controversial thematic domains (economic rights, racism, freedom of expression, and sexual orientation), I conclude that the three states do not have the same views about human rights. Furthermore, I find that the IBSA states often do not support pro-human rights initiatives in the Council, although Brazil stands apart from India and South Africa for its greater willingness to support stronger human rights positions.

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