Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
19
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the steps, if any, he will take to ensure the observance of basic human rights; whether he will pursue these matters through the aegis of the EU in order to identify the countries in which the worst of such offences occur; the way in which the matter might best be tackled to achieve major improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22455/97]
I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm that human rights is a priority issue for this Government and a central component of our foreign policy. We believe that the international community has an obligation to act when it has concerns, and that these concerns should be pursued whenever possible in a constructive spirit of co-operation and dialogue, conscious of the responsibility which devolves on all governments to promote and protect human rights.
In co-operation with our EU partners, we monitor closely the human rights situations in a number of countries. On many occasions we have commented publicly on those situations which give rise to grave concern, as for example at the UN General Assembly, both in my predecessor's address to the assembly on 25 September and in the debates of the third committee. The EU statement delivered at that forum by the Presidency, on behalf of all member states, expressed our common disquiet at human rights violations in certain countries which are of particular concern at the present time, including Afghanistan, Burma, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Timor and Nigeria.
We believe that applying concentrated international pressure through multilateral organisations such as the EU, the UN and the Council of Europe is the most effective means of eliminating human rights abuses and, moreover, has resulted in an improvement of the situation in some countries — for example, the adoption by the Kenyan Government of a programme for constitutional, legislative and administrative reform; the resumption without preconditions of the constructive dialogue on human rights between China and the EU; ratification of the optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Sri Lankan Government; the dialogue which has been established between the Governments of Nepal and Bhutan on the issue of refugees from Bhutan; and the co-operation of the Colombian Government with the Commission on Human Rights and the High Commissioner's new Centre for Human Rights in Bogota. While many of these countries still have serious problems in the human rights sphere, such improvements are to be welcomed nonetheless.
As I recently assured the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ireland will continue to fulfil our obligations to promote the observance of universal human rights standards. We will also continue to voice our concerns, whenever possible in partnership with other member states of the Union, in international fora such as the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
