India and European Union hold 12th Human Rights Dialogue in New Delhi

Key facts

• India and the European Union (EU) held the 12th India-EU Human Rights Dialogue in New Delhi, co-chaired by Piyush Srivastava of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India.
• The dialogue recalled the 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi in January 2026, which focused on a Strategic Partnership based on democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and a rules-based international order with the United Nations (UN) at its core.
• The two sides discussed challenges regarding civil and political rights; social, economic, and cultural rights; elimination of discrimination; rights of migrants; freedom of religion or belief; freedom of expression and opinion (online and offline); and gender, LGBTQI+ and child rights.
• Both parties reiterated their commitment to developing trustworthy, sustainable, and human-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI), as conveyed during the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India.
• The EU reiterated its opposition to capital punishment in all cases, while India reiterated its stand on the recognition of the Right to Development as a distinct, universal, inalienable and fundamental human right.
• The sides agreed to continue engagement through the regular dialogue and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), as outlined in the Joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.
• The next Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place in 2027.