Vol. 420 No. 3
11 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise, in the United Nations, the situation in Mauritania where tens of thousands of African people are held as property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
36 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise, in the United Nations and in the European Community, the situation whereby more than a million people around the world still suffer as slaves according to the AntiSlavery International Organisation of Great Britain.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 36 together. I share the concern of the Deputy with regard to the Anti-Slavery International report on the continuing mistreatment of large numbers of people as slaves in certain parts of the world. Slavery is a most hemous abuse of fundamental human rights and is outlawed by civilised society. It is totally incompatible with basic human rights and freedoms and with the dignity of the human being, which is central to our policy of promotion and protection of human rights. The Government strongly condemn such abuses, wherever and whenever they occur.
The United Nations closely monitor reports of slavery through their Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. The work of this group is examined annually in both the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights. Ireland participates in the debates in these fora and will continue to oppose the practice of slavery in all of its contemporary forms.
With regard to the situation in Mauritania, I am aware of the report that thousands of Africans are being held as chattels in that country. The Government intend to raise this situation with our partners in the European Community, in the context of preparing the common position to be adopted by the Twelve at the United Nations General Assembly next autumn and at the next meeting of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.
Have the Government taken any specific action in cases such as the one mentioned and in the case of East Timor? Are we moving motions in the United Nations to help suppressed people in these countries?
As I have said, we intend to raise this matter through the well-established procedures.
That sounds a bit anaemic. Are we moving motions?
Let us hear the Minister.
We intend to raise this matter at the first opportunity with our partners in the Community, at the United Nations Convention dealing with this matter and at the meeting of the Commission for Human Rights.
I would ask the Minister to put a little more backbone into the answer. It is time that a country such as Ireland, which does not have the baggage of being a former colonial power in Africa, took a more active rôle at the United Nations as opposed to a passive rôle in abstaining on motions. Would the Minister give a commitment on this issue, which relates to probably the most henious crime still existing on the continent of Africa now that apartheid is being undermined, that he will personally take an interest in the matter and ask our ambassador in the United Nations to initiate motions at the United Nations?
My attention was drawn to this matter by way of a recent edition of Newsweek. In view of the concern expressed here I will take an interest in the matter to see what is the position and I will communicate with the Deputy.
The question I wish to raise has been referred to by the Minister. To be specific, would the Minister consider recommending to the Irish representatives that they co-sponsor a resolution which would include in its text the visit of a United Nations mission to the principal offending countries such as Mauritania?
This is a matter that will be considered. I will draw it to the attention of the Minister and the officials who deal with this aspect.
There is much ground to be covered at this stage. I am a little concerned that, pending the tabling of questions, nothing appears to have been done by the Government in this regard. Would the Minister confirm that there is a great degree of urgency in the reaction by himself and the Minister to this situation and that a forward position should be taken by Ireland to highlight the problem and to ensure that it is brought to an end?
Quotations from the presidency of the European Council indicate that this matter has not been neglected by the Presidency or by the Council. We make a contribution to a voluntary fund against torture and to a voluntary fund for the human rights centre in Geneva. The centre provides advisory services to developing countries of Europe and on the protection and promotion of human rights. We contributed something like £3,500 this year. I am not very familiar with this area although I am aware of reports in the media and elsewhere. Seeing that this has been raised here I will take a personal interest in the matter and I will communicate more fully with the Deputies about the situation and what we can do about it.
Will the Minister bear in mind a point made by Deputy Owen that virtually every one of the other members of the EC have been colonialists at some stage and that when motions like this are moved jointly, most of these countries have their tongues in their cheeks, because it is within living memory that most of them were colonialists? With the exception of Luxembourg we are the only country who have clean hands in this regard. There is an onus on Ireland to move motions like this and not to be content to be co-sponsors with the other 11 members of the EC. We should take the initiative. The others all have skeletons in their cupboards and they would rather not take the initiative.
As I already said, it is the intention now to raise the situation with our partners in the Community.
That is the danger.
Can the Minister give a commitment to do something, if they do not want to?
Question No. 12, Deputy Connor's question. I am concerned about the lack of progress made at question time today.
It is always the same on foreign affairs and will be until we get this committee.
Let us try to expedite matters.
