Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

42 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of cases of human rights abuses brought to his attention in the past six months; the action, if any, taken in each case; the result, if any, of his inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of instances where he intervened on international human rights issues in the past six months; the extent, if any, of this intervention; the outcome in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27897/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

146 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent, if any, to which he has intervened at UN level on behalf of people who are the victims of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27903/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent, if any, to which he has intervened at EU level on behalf of people who are the victims of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27904/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 140, 146 and 147 together.

In co-operation with our EU partners and other concerned states, the Government continually monitors the human rights situation in many countries throughout the world. A steady flow of information is available from many sources including local embassies, United Nations rapporteurs and working groups, the Commission on Human Rights, NGOs and so forth. Through these various channels, many instances of human rights abuses are constantly brought to my attention.

On many occasions I have commented publicly on those situations which give rise to grave concern, in a national capacity and as a member of the European Union. These concerns have also been raised on a consistent basis by this country's representatives at the UN General Assembly and at the UN Commission on Human Rights. The recent EU statement delivered at the Third Committee of the General Assembly expressed our common disquiet at human rights violations in certain areas of the world which are of particular concern at present, including Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Kosovo.

Applying concentrated international pressure through multilateral organisations, such as the EU, UN and the Council of Europe, is one of the most effective means of combating human rights abuses and, moreover, has resulted in an improvement of the situation in some countries, for example, the commitment of the Nigerian Government to move into a programme of democratisation and the release of a number of political prisoners; the steps being taken in Indonesia to hold democratic elections next summer and Cambodia working through a process of democratisation. There has also been progress in relation to universal abolition of the death penalty. Earlier this year Azerbaijan abolished the death penalty and the Bulgarian Parliament has stated its intention to do the same, hopefully before the end of this month. We will continue to monitor closely the human rights situation in all of these countries.

Ireland will continue to fulfil our obligation to promote the observance of universal human rights standards. We will also continue to voice our concerns, wherever possible in partnership with other like-minded countries, in international fora, such as the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission on Humanh Rights, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.