asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the Irish delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights currently in session in Geneva to sponsor a resolution condemning the violation of human rights in the Philippines; the exact resolution and the date on which it will be tabled; and if he will make a statement on this serious human rights situation.
Written Answers. - Human Rights in the Philippines.
391.
The Government have been deeply concerned about the human rights situation in the Philippines for some time. Ireland's Representative in the UN Commission on Human Rights expressed the Government's disquiet at last year's session of the Commission and called on the Philippine Government to take steps to improve the human rights situation in that country. Later, on the Government's instructions our representative raised the issue with the Philippine Representative in Geneva. The Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, took up the matter of human rights violations with the Philippine Foreign Minister in March last year and I myself raised the issue during my meeting in New York in September with the Philippine Foreign Minister.
In regard to the Deputy's suggestions that Ireland sponsor a resolution on the situation in the Philippines, I should perhaps explain briefly the way in which the Human Rights Commission work. The Commission has two different procedures for examining situations of violation of human rights. The first of these is a confidential procedure in which it examines communications submitted to it which appear to reveal a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights. Under this procedure, which is conducted in private, the Commission examines the allegations of human rights violations together with written observations, if any, of the Government of the State in which the violations are alleged to have occurred. The Government concerned are invited to send a representative of the Commission who may make a statement and reply to questions posed by the delegates. The Commission then indicates by means of a resolution how it views the situation and, where appropriate, that it requires further action from the Government. The details of proceedings and the terms of the Commission resolution remain confidential unless the Commission decides to refer the matter to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. At the end of this procedure the chairman of the Commission announces in public session the countries in respect of which decisions have been taken. The effectiveness of this procedure (including its confidentiality) in securing the co-operation of Governments and improvement of human rights situations is attested by the fact that in very few cases over the years has the Commission felt it necessary to decide to proceed to publication of its examination of a particular case.
The second procedure is a public debate in which delegates express their concern at human rights violations anywhere in the world and submit resolutions for adoption of the Commission. It is most unusual that a resolution is adopted, or even submitted, in respect of a country where a resolution has already been adopted in regard to that country under the confidential procedure described above.
The Irish delegation at the Commission are fully aware that the human rights situation in the Philippines calls for consideration by the Commission.
The Deputy will appreciate that because of the way in which the Human Rights Commission conducts its business, I cannot at the present time give any further details in relation to discussions under the confidential procedure. However, he can be assured that the Irish delegation will use every appropriate occasion to express concern at the repeated reports of violations of human rights in the Philippines and to press for appropriate action by the Human Rights Commission.