Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
Question:
31
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if, in view of Ireland's membership of the Security Council, he will make a comprehensive statement on the way in which Ireland proposes to meet its human rights obligations; if he will list the outstanding instruments not signed, ratified or implemented; and the timetable that the Government may have for action in this regard.
[22340/00]
The Government is actively pursuing its human rights priorities in a wide range of international fora, both on a national basis and in conjunction with our EU partners.
Ireland will continue to fulfil its obligation to promote the observance of universal human rights standards. We will 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 Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Ireland will also promote human rights issues in the UN Security Council. On taking up our seat on the Council in January 2001, Ireland's continuing commitment to fundamental human rights values will be evident as part of our approach to all foreign policy issues. The obligations we have assumed in relation to international human rights instruments to which we are party will continue to be met in the fullest way possible.
Given the large number and range of international human rights instruments in existence or under negotiation, signature or accession may not necessarily be under active consideration in respect of all such agreements at any given time. The situation is kept under review in the context of the ongoing assessment and prioritisation of Ireland's international commitments.
In regard to major international human rights instruments, the immediate priorities for the Government are as follows: in relation to the convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, which Ireland signed in 1968, the necessary enabling legislation, namely, the Employment Equality Act, 1998, and the Equal Status Act, 2000, has been enacted and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has stated that ratification of the convention will be completed by the end of the year. Government and Dáil approval will be sought in the near future for ratification of, and the making of certain declarations in relation to, the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The necessary enabling legislation, namely, the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Act, 2000, has already been enacted.
In regard to human rights instruments within the context of the Council of Europe context, the priorities for the Government presently include the following: signature and ratification of the revised European Social Charter as well as its additional Protocol which provides for a system of collective complaints; signature of Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns anti-discrimination issues. We hope to be in a position to sign by 1 November at the European Convention ceremony in Rome; and signature and ratification of Protocol 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights concerning equality issues. We hope to be in a position to sign and ratify this protocol in the very near future.
Question No. 32 taken with Question No. 7.
