India has strongly rejected allegations by UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero that young people in the country face retaliation and stigma for raising concerns about mental health and gender justice. India questioned the credibility of the claims and criticised the report for relying on what it described as unverified information. Speaking during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) Third Committee, India’s First Secretary Anuj Swarup defended the country’s constitutional protections for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He also described the report’s approach as arbitrary. “In India, these freedoms, together with freedom of speech and expression, are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of our Constitution, and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press, and an empowered National Human Rights Commission,” Swarup said during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. The UN report has drawn attention amid protests in India demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the revision of voter rolls. Swarup also questioned the report’s reliance on anonymous submissions, saying it offered little verifiable evidence to support its allegations. "This level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility,” he added. "A sweeping charge against the world's largest youth population resting on anonymous and unverified claims is not evidence. It is hearsay, dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright,” Swarup further said.

#IndiaAtUN

Anuj Swarup, First Secretary, delivered 🇮🇳’s statement at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, highlighting the following: ➡️ 🇮🇳’s constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, association, speech and expression to every citizen which are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press and an empowered National Human Rights Commission. ➡️ Youth engagement by the Government and swift actions taken against individuals engaged in exam fraud and systemic overhaul of competitive examinations. ➡️ Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in which over five million young people shaped national priorities directly with the Prime Minister and continued direct engagement with youth. @PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @PIB_India @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive @EduMinOfIndia @YASMinistry — India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) October 16, 2026

What Did Gina Romero Say About Protests in India?

On October 10, Romero made a series of posts on X accusing Indian authorities of using excessive force against young people taking part in peaceful demonstrations. She also alleged that authorities had carried out arbitrary detentions and imposed restrictions on the press. Romero further claimed that more than 2,500 protesters had been sent to detention centres in remote areas without access to legal assistance. According to her allegations, some detainees had also faced torture or sexual abuse. “India once again indian youth take the streets peacefuly to make their voices hear, and once again the gvt respond with unlawful and excesive use of force, arbitrary detentions. Also restriction of the press have been reported,” one of Romero's posts said.

Indian Diplomat Highlights Youth Participation in Politics

Responding to the allegations, Swarup argued that the report failed to present a balanced picture of civic life in India. He pointed to young people's participation in political movements and their ability to engage with senior government officials. He also questioned how the report could describe India’s environment as repressive while acknowledging the activities of a youth-led satirical political movement. "Ironically, the same report notes that young Indians created a satirical political movement. In which repressive state does a satirical youth party question the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders?" Swarup also referred to remarks made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the Human Rights Council in September. He said Türk had highlighted the value of engaging directly with young leaders in the context of youth-led movements in India. "The High Commissioner for Human Rights stated in the Human Rights Council last month that dialogue with young leaders is far more effective in the context of youth-led movements in India. Perhaps that update escaped the special rapporteur's attention,” he said.

India Urges UN Rapporteur to ‘Verify Before You Vilify’

Swarup called on Romero, a Colombian human rights advocate, to exercise greater care and fairness when preparing reports on countries. He argued that allegations based on anonymous submissions should not be used to make broad claims about India's population of approximately 1.4 billion people. "Chair, a mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalise for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge this special rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigour and fairness in her reports," he said.