GCRPPB Urges the European Union to Prioritize Human Rights During the 13th EU–Bhutan Annual Consultations

The Hague – As the European Union and the Government of Bhutan prepare for the 13th EU–Bhutan Annual Consultations to take place  in Thimphu on Tuesday (22 April 2025), the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) – a Bhutanese rights group- has called for these talks to be used as a critical platform for addressing long-standing human rights concerns in Bhutan.

“This high-level diplomatic dialogue represents an essential opportunity for the EU to engage Bhutan on vital matters, including the release of political prisoners, the plight of displaced Bhutanese citizens, and broader human rights violations that persist in the country,” said Ram Karki, Founder and Global Coordinator of Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB).

The GCRPPB has strongly urged the EU delegation to prioritize the following issues during these consultations:

• The immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Bhutan, many of whom have been unjustly incarcerated for over three decades, followed by proper compensation, rehabilitation, and family reunification for those who have suffered immensely under Bhutan’s unjust detention system. This includes ensuring that they receive comprehensive support to heal from physical and emotional trauma, financial compensation for their wrongful imprisonment, and the opportunity to reunite with their families, many of whom have been separated for decades.

• The repatriation of Bhutanese refugees still living in camps in Nepal, many of whom are descendants of ethnic Nepali Bhutanese expelled in the 1990s.

• The status and treatment of Bhutanese citizens deported from the United States and subsequently expelled by Bhutan.

• Addressing systemic human rights violations affecting the Lhotshampa community and other marginalized ethnic groups within Bhutan.
• The issuance of visas for resettled Bhutanese citizens with foreign passports, allowing them to visit their parents, relatives, and friends in Bhutan as tourists. Many of these individuals have been forced into exile for decades and have been separated from their families. Allowing them to visit their homeland would be a significant step towards reconciliation and healing.
  
  

At least 32 individuals—predominantly ethnic Nepali Bhutanese—remain imprisoned under the 1992 National Security Act. These individuals have faced trials lacking fair process, often relying on coerced confessions. They are currently held in inhumane conditions in prisons like Chamgang and Rabuna, suffering under arbitrary detention with no recourse to parole or legal review, the rights group said.

On 4 April 2025, UN Special Rapporteurs issued a joint communication urging the Royal Government of Bhutan to release these prisoners. “Some individuals have spent more than three decades behind bars. They were convicted in trials that did not meet fair trial guarantees and may have involved torture or ill-treatment,” the statement said.

The UN experts called upon the Government of Bhutan to immediately review the cases of all individuals detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms and ensure their release, rehabilitation, and reparation. They warned that continued detention could constitute arbitrary detention, violating Bhutan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

These concerns were echoed in a 14 April 2025 letter from the European Parliament to Bhutan’s Prime Minister, signed by key committee chairs. The letter emphasized that Bhutan’s future relationship with the EU—including cooperation under the GSP+ scheme and the Global Gateway Strategy—must be based on upholding human rights and democratic values.

“While the EU values its trade and development ties with Bhutan, these partnerships must reflect a genuine commitment to upholding fundamental rights,” the letter stated.

In their 15 April 2025 joint statement, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also called on the European Union to press Bhutan to take meaningful action on these human rights violations. The organizations emphasized:

“The EU must use its leverage to ensure that Bhutan ends the long-standing abuse of its citizens through arbitrary detention, forced expulsion, and the violation of basic freedoms, the international rights groups said.

“The GCRPPB fully supports this call and believes that the EU has a critical role to play in holding Bhutan accountable for these human rights abuses,” said Mr Karki. “This is a critical moment for Bhutan to demonstrate political courage and moral leadership. We call on the Royal Government of Bhutan to take decisive action by immediately reviewing and releasing all political prisoners and acknowledging the right of return for exiled citizens. 

Let the 13th EU–Bhutan Annual Consultations serve as a turning point—toward truth, justice, reconciliation, and dignity for all Bhutanese,” he added.