The European Union and Mongolia held their eighth Human Rights Dialogue online on 24 June 2026, covering a broad range of issues including media freedom, discrimination, and children's rights. The dialogue was co-chaired by Nicoletta Pusterla, Acting Head of Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia at the European External Action Service, and Soyolmaa Jambaldorj, Director-General of Treaty and Law Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.
The two sides reviewed recent developments and updated each other on their respective human rights policies and priorities. They reaffirmed their commitment to the universality and indivisibility of human rights and to the full realisation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, including further strengthening cooperation on human rights and the rule of law. The EU and Mongolia underscored the importance of cooperation in international human rights fora, including the UN General Assembly, and agreed to further strengthen cooperation under the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade. Mongolia briefed the EU on the follow-up to the outcomes and recommendations of its fourth Universal Periodic Review, held in November 2025.
On media freedom, the EU welcomed Mongolia's plan to reform the Law on Media Freedom, following the December 2025 ruling of the Constitutional Court which declared that the criminalisation of the dissemination of false information is unconstitutional. The EU encouraged Mongolia to establish a legal framework that protects the freedom of press organisations and ensures alignment with international human rights obligations. The EU also noted that the freedom, independence and plurality of Mongolian press and media must be fully guaranteed.
The parties emphasised the importance of combatting discrimination, with particular focus on persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ persons, and gender-based violence. The EU highlighted the need to adopt comprehensive legislation prohibiting discrimination, including multiple, direct, and indirect discrimination on all grounds prohibited under international law.
On children's rights, the EU invited Mongolia to take more decisive measures against violence against children, sexual violence against minors, child labour, and the issue of child jockeys. The EU called on Mongolia to increase the minimum age for child jockeys and align the minimum age of admission to employment with the age of completion of compulsory education.
Mongolia updated on the implementation of human rights and labour conventions under the GSP+ scheme. The EU recalled the importance of fulfilling GSP+ related commitments and the human rights-related priorities of the current monitoring cycle.
The dialogue was conducted in an open and constructive atmosphere, with both sides agreeing to continue cooperation on human rights issues.