India on Friday joined the European Union to “recognise” the “important role” of national human rights institutions, civil society actors and journalists as the two sides exchanged “concerns” over freedom of expression and “opinion online and offline”. The two sides held the 10th India-EU Human Rights Dialogue in New Delhi and reiterated mutual commitment to the universal human rights and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) that will come up at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva later this year.
“They both concurred on the importance of safeguarding the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors, including human rights defenders and journalists and respecting of association and peaceful assembly,” stated a joint press release issued after the talks. The discussion shows India’s diplomatic will to sustain dialogue on human rights with the EU despite recent rights-related controversies that have brought international focus on New Delhi’s obligation to universal human rights.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had hit back after the arrest of human rights defender Teesta Setalvad was criticised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The MEA had responded in a similar manner asserting that the arrest of online fact checker and journalist Mohammed Zubair was a “domestic issue” after the German Foreign Ministry said they were “closely” following the case .
