PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Press Freedoms in India (18 July 2022)

That this House holds that a free press is essential for a functioning democracy; is alarmed by increased crackdowns on journalistic independence and freedom in India; notes that India has dropped from 133 in 2016 to 150 out of 190 countries on the 2022 Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index; further notes widespread concerns regarding press freedoms in India from organisations including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom House, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation of Journalists, CIVICUS, Access Now, International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch; is especially concerned by reports that Indian authorities are targeting journalists including those from religious minorities that are critical of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party; believes that the UK-India relationship must be deeper than trade and should be based on the promotion of democracy, human rights and upholding international law; calls on the Government to ensure that the Indian government abides by its commitments as a signatory to the 2022 Resilient Democracies Statement which hails all courageous defenders of democratic systems that stand against oppression and violence; and urges the Government to make representations with its Indian counterparts about the safety, freedom and independence of Indian journalists.

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Claudia Webbe (Independent)