Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 2

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

199 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the top 20 locations where evidence of serious human rights abuses exist; his proposals to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21896/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Human rights are, and have always been, a priority of successive Governments and central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, the Government monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including non-governmental organisations. Where the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question.

The UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights are the major fora for discussing human rights matters at the international level and the EU regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in a large number of countries from all regions. Ireland is fully associated with these.

At the 58th session of the Commission on Human Rights earlier this year, the EU addressed the human rights situation in over 60 countries. The EU also introduced a number of resolutions dealing with specific countries including Iran, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Chechnya, the Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories, Myanmar and South-Eastern Europe.

Active participation in multilateral organisations such as the EU, UN and the Council of Europe provides an occasion where Ireland can voice its concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for the violation of human rights. The Government will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violation of human rights and furthering their protection.