Vol. 557 No. 2
63 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the priorities he has set for Ireland's membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights, which commences on 1 January 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21553/02]
Ireland is firmly committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which include promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction. Human rights concerns play a central role in our foreign policy. In this context, we attach great importance to the Commission on Human Rights, which is the primary forum within the United Nations for the discussion of human rights matters.
Ireland has previously served three terms on the Commission on Human Rights, and will again be a member from 1 January 2003 for a three-year period. I am looking forward to the challenges and responsibilities which membership of the commission will bring. These will assume added importance during our EU Presidency in the first half of 2004 when we will speak and negotiate on behalf of the European Union at the commission.
The European Union is a major participant in the work of the Commission on Human Rights and partners work together to identify priorities, make common statements, put forward resolutions jointly and adopt common positions on proposals. Ireland will continue to participate fully with our partners in these actions.
Ireland considers that a major role of the commission should be to ensure that human rights standards are universally accepted and implemented and that the international community reacts appropriately where human rights are violated or abused. We are concerned at a recent tendency for political considerations, rather than human rights concerns, to dictate the commission's approach to a number of questions, in particular to country situations. We will continue to work actively with our European Union partners to ensure the Commission addresses in an impartial and effective way the many important items on its agenda, including the various thematic issues and country situations which come before it.
When it considers it necessary, the commission mandates special rapporteurs to investigate and report to it on individual countries or on specific issues. We will seek to ensure that these representatives of the commission are given the support they need to carry out their mandate fully and effectively and in particular that they receive the necessary co-operation from states.
Ireland is a major contributor to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. During our term on the commission, one of our main aims will be to strengthen and support the Office so that the High Commissioner will be able to carry out fully the mandate entrusted to him by the General Assembly in 1993.
I was particularly disappointed that the commission failed to reach agreement on the follow-up mechanisms to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Other Forms of Intolerance, which took place in Durban last year. Ireland will work towards the restoration of the consensus on this important question so that the international community can act in a concerted and cohesive manner to overcome racism and intolerance wherever they occur.
Additional informationThe General Assembly is expected shortly to adopt an optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture which will greatly strengthen the convention by providing it with a mechanism for carrying out inspection visits. Ireland strongly supports the optional protocol and will work with other like-minded countries so that it can enter into force at the earliest opportunity. We will also lend support to the work of the special rapporteurs on torture, on arbitrary detention and on summary executions.
Ireland has traditionally presented resolutions on two issues to the Commission on Human Rights, and we will work to build further support for these. The resolution on the elimination of religious intolerance seeks to ensure that all states provide effective guarantees for freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including effective remedies where that right is violated. It also provides the mandate to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the declaration on the elimination of religious intolerance, and to recommend remedial measures.
The resolution on the rights of persons with disabilities, for which we are the lead sponsor, deals with the question of discrimination and promotes the full participation of persons with disabilities in activities at both national and international level, including in human rights related bodies. I look forward to Ireland playing an active and constructive role in the commission with the aim of ensuring that human rights are effectively promoted and protected at the international level.
In relation to the Minister's priorities and the possibility of departmental rapporteurs, will Ireland raise the human rights abuses in Israel and Palestine as a priority? These include the excessive activities of the Israelis, the malnutrition of Palestinian children, and the suicide bombers, all of which amount to an atrocity. Will the Minister look at the whole question of human rights in Israel and Palestine with a view to bringing it to the top of the agenda?
I also ask the Minister whether, now that the Taliban have been replaced in Afghanistan, the human rights situation there continues to be monitored. There are worrying reports about prisoners of war, or prisoners taken subsequently, allegedly being lined up and shot. These are third hand reports and I do not know if they are accurate. Will the Minster ensure that human rights in Afghanistan continue to be monitored?
I will take the Deputy's concerns into consideration as we take up membership of the commission. We have traditionally presented resolutions on two issues to the commission and worked for further support for them. The resolution on the elimination of religious intolerance seeks to ensure that all states provide effective guarantees for freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including affective remedies where that right is violated. It also provides the mandate for a special rapporteur on the freedom of religion and belief to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world which are incompatible with the provisions of the declaration on the provision and to recommend remedial measures.
The resolution on the rights of persons with disabilities, for which we are the lead sponsor, deals with the question of discrimination and promotes the full participation of persons with disabilities in activities at both national and international levels, including human rights related bodies. There were 90 resolutions passed on a wide range of issues in the last plenary session. We will take up our positions in consultation with EU partners and others. The two particular matters which the Deputy raised concerned areas of conflict where there have been and continue to be human rights abuses on all sides.
In relation to prisoners who are held on the island of Cuba by the United States, is regular access allowed to them and are they monitored in keeping with international criteria?
That is a separate question and I do not have the immediate supplementary information to answer it. However, continuing concern has been expressed on this matter. The question of whether prisoner of war status was available to these people has been a matter of continuing dispute. Our position is that regardless of their status they should be afforded basic dignities.
