Plenary speech on caste discrimination in India

Marietje Schaake − Mr President, as caste discrimination and modern-day slavery are still serious and systematic problems affecting hundreds of millions of Indians, more needs to be done in terms of the efforts that the authorities have taken, and more can be done than has been so far. We hope that the Indian Parliament will pass a proposed bill which would create more protection for the most vulnerable people and minority groups. There also needs to be improvement in both the reporting of cases of discrimination and abuse and the security of the people who report it, and the people responsible for such abuse need to be held accountable. NGOs or civil society groups that support the most vulnerable people in India should not be hindered from receiving funds from third countries. The EU should step up its efforts to address these problems locally in India and reach out to these minority populations. However, we should also address discrimination and abuse more firmly in the course of international dialogues or EU-India dialogues. As the world watches with interest how India is going to develop economically, we should be equally firm in ensuring that its progress and development are reflected in the improvement of human rights protection as well.