asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will initiate action before the United Nations to challenge the continued widespread use of torture in Chile, in view of the information contained in the recent dossier of Amnesty International and having regard to the fact that Chile has now ratified the United Nations Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Torture in Chile.
62.
The situation with regard to human rights in Chile has been considered by the United Nations General Assembly each year since 1974 and by the Commission on Human Rights since 1975. A special rapporteur has been monitoring and reporting annually to the UN on the situation since 1979.
The Irish delegation has consistently voted in favour of resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Commission on Human Rights criticising aspects of the human rights situation in Chile. In our view a resolution adopted by the General Assembly last December was not sufficiently explicit in its condemnation of torture and the other infringements of human rights in Chile referred to in the last report of the special rapporteur. The Irish delegate made a statement to that effect.
In co-operation with our EC partners and other Western countries we will continue to try to get the United Nations more explicitly to condemn and to bring pressure on the authorities to prevent torture and other breaches of human rights that may be occurring in that country.