The 10th edition of the India-EU Human Rights Dialogue was conducted on the 15th of July, 2022, in New Delhi. This edition of the Human Rights Dialogue was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary for Europe West in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty, and the Ambassador of the European Union to India, Mr. Ugo Astuto.
Both India and the EU recapitulated their commitments to protecting and promoting all human rights. Both India and the EU put emphasis on the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights.
India and the EU shared views and expressed concerns on political and civil rights, the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and opinion offline as well as online, women empowerment, rights of children, LGBTQI+ rights, the rights of migrants, the usage of technology in the area of democracy and human rights, issues concerning security and human rights, business and human rights, co-operation in public health and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
Both agreed on the significance of preserving the freedom, independence and diversity of civil societies which includes human rights defenders and journalists and respecting the freedom of association and peaceful assemblies. The EU reaffirmed its disregard for capital punishment in all cases and without exception, and India reiterated its stance on the recognition of the Right to Development as a universal, distinct, inalienable and fundamental human right that is applicable to all people in all countries across the globe.
India and the EU expressed the urgency to build a greater engagement on human rights issues which will be based on internationally recognised human rights standards and laws. Both, India and the EU reaffirmed each other on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The EU updated the Indian side on its recent initiatives on corporate sustainability due diligence while India informed the EU on the status of its first “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights”. India and the EU are looking forward to deepening cooperation in the field of business and human rights.
They both reiterated their allegiance to multilateralism, including to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, and the significance of boosting cooperation on the international front in the field of human rights. Both India and the European Union agreed on the next edition of the Human Rights Dialogue to be held in 2023.
