Rule of law needs to be strengthened by avoiding "selectivity, partiality"

India said here on Wednesday that it is critical to strengthen the rule of law at the international level by "avoiding selectivity, partiality and double standards" and through "freeing the international criminal justice institutions from the clutches of political considerations. " The statement came as the Indian minister of state for external affairs, Preneet Kaur, spoke at an open debate of the UN Security Council on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security. "We need to strengthen the rule of law at the international level by avoiding selectivity, partiality and double standards as well as by freeing the international criminal justice institutions from the clutches of political considerations," she said. "India firmly believes that international efforts to address the issues of serious crimes of international concern and impunity should be anchored in the UN Charter and international law," she added. "India firmly opposes impunity for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Denial of impunity is the only way to ensure truth and reconciliation and establishing peace and justice." "Peaceful settlement of disputes is an important tool in the maintenance of international peace and security and in the promotion of the rule of law," the official pointed out. "The rule of law serves as a key element in the conflict prevention and peacekeeping as well as conflict resolution and peacebuilding," she stressed. "There is also a need to promote the rule of law as a core value across the UN system," she added.