asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the United Nations report on torture in Chile; and if he will urge effective UN intervention to stop such inhuman treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Torture Report.
26.
I have seen the report to which the Deputy refers, which is a progress report of an ad hoc working group of the Commission on Human Rights. A final report is to be submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its next session to be held in Geneva in February, 1976.
The present report covers not only torture but a wide range of human rights issues. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the working group which prepared the report had been promised complete freedom of movement in Chile by the government of Chile in order to carry out its work, but at a late stage—six days before it was due to arrive—the group was refused permission to enter Chile. Nevertheless, the situtation disclosed in the interim report is one which gives grounds for deep concern. In particular, I should like to express my concern at the findings of the report in regard to torture in Chile.
As the Deputy will be aware, in my speech in the general debate at the United Nations General Assembly on 26th September last, I expressed concern at the extent to which torture is accepted in the world today; and I described it as a source of shame to all of us that a body such as Amnesty International... "should have to report that in the territories of 100 members of the organisation breaches of human rights occur and that one member State, Chile, is currently refusing admission to a United Nations Human Rights Group".
The present report of the ad hoc working group has been debated in the third committee of the United Nations General Assembly during the current session. The Irish delegation was actively involved in the drafting and co-sponsorship of a resolution deploring the refusal of the Chilean authorities to admit the ad hoc working group, calling upon the Chilean authorities to restore full human rights and fundamental freedoms in Chile, and recommending that the group continue its work. The Irish third committee delegate made a statement explaining Ireland's support for the resolution and our deep concern about the situation in Chile. The draft resolution was subsequently adopted by the third committee by 88 votes to 11 with 20 abstentions.
I am glad my question has given the Minister the opportunity of putting that on the record. I share his concern.
Questions Nos. 27 and 28 postponed.