12th EU-India Human Rights Dialogue

The 12^th European Union (EU) - India Human Rights Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 24 June 2026. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Mr. Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary (Europe West) and Mr. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India

The two sides welcomed the meaningful, free and frank discussions under the framework of the Dialogue and concurred on the value of its regularity. They outlined their approaches, achievements, and challenges in their respective journeys towards the shared goal of advancement of all human rights. They exchanged views on related developments in the EU and in India, as well as at the regional and international levels since the last Dialogue in January 2025. 

MEA

The two sides recalled  the historic 16^th EU-India Summit in January 2026 held in New Delhi, wherein the leaders had underlined their commitment to raise the EU-India Strategic Partnership “to a higher level based on shared values and principles including democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and the rules‑ based international order with the UN at its core”, as mentioned in the Summit’s Joint Statement.

In an era of growing global challenges, during the Dialogue, the EU and India reiterated their commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights. As major democracies, open market economies, diverse societies, and together home to nearly one fourth of the world population, the EU and India emphasised the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights. 

The EU and India exchanged views and discussed the challenges faced by each other on civil and political rights; social, economic, and cultural rights; elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations; the rights of migrants; freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and opinion both online and offline; gender, LGBTQI+ and child rights. They reiterated their commitment to develop trustworthy, sustainable, human-centric AI as conveyed during the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India. They also discussed their shared interest in increased cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The two sides updated each other on their implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in these areas. 

The EU and India recognised the importance of strengthening and cooperating with national and international human rights institutions and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights. They both concurred on the importance of safeguarding the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors and organisations and other relevant stakeholders such as journalists, and respecting freedom of association and peaceful assembly. The EU reiterated its opposition to capital punishment in all cases and without exception. India reiterated its stand on recognition of the Right to Development as a distinct, universal, inalienable and fundamental human right.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to “continue to engage on human rights in a bilateral and multilateral context, including through the regular EU-India human rights dialogue and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)”, as outlined in the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. They exchanged on concrete avenues for consultation and cooperation at the multilateral level. 

Both sides looked forward to continuing the constructive dialogue at the next Human Rights Dialogue in 2027.