Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 2

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

112 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if claims by an organisation (details supplied) that UNFPA, which is partly funded by the taxpayer, is forcing women in China to have abortions and that UNFPA is intrinsically involved in the Chinese one-child policy are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21511/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Ireland is supporting the work of the UN Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA, to help them extend assistance to developing countries in order to assist in dealing with such development challenges as maternal and infant mortality, HIV-AIDS and maternal reproductive healthcare. In 2002, Ireland contributed €1.84 million to the UNFPA in support of its work.

Recent reports by the Population Research Institute, a private US body, have alleged that UNFPA supports the Chinese Governments one child policy. There have been a number of US Congressional hearings on the basis of these reports. Two separate recent investigations by independent teams, commissioned by UNFPA itself and by the British parliament, examined UNFPAs activities in China in detail and both came to the same conclusion that the fund is working to encourage China away from coercive policies and is not involved in supporting a one-child policy.

However, despite the two independent investigations, the US administration decided to carry out its own fact-finding mission to China. This mission, which reported in May 2002, also found no support for the allegations made by the Population Research Institute. The report of the mission, addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that the mission found "no evidence that UNFPA has knowingly supported or participated in the management of a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation in China" and therefore recommended that the $34 million which has already been appropriated be released to UNFPA.

In the event, the US administration did not accept the recommendation of the investigation team and decided to withhold its financial support from UNFPA. This decision was taken by the State Department which voiced concern, inter alia, that it was possible that some of UNFPAs activities, such as the funding of computers, might unwittingly be used to support Chinas coercive policies. The UNFPA has vehemently denied this possibility and no investigation to date has found any evidence that this is the case.

The EU is currently engaged in dialogue with the US on its decision to withhold its funding from UNFPA and on the background to its decision. At the EU Development Council in May 2002, EU member states reaffirmed the importance of the role of UNFPA in reaching the millennium development goals in the areas of infant, child and maternal mortality and restated the EUs firm commitment to continue to support the Fund. The commission has allocated an additional €20 million to UNFPA.

In the context of the findings of these various independent investigations and from our own bilateral contacts with the fund, the Irish Government believes that UNFPA abides by its mandate in all of the countries in which it operates, including China. We are also satisfied that it is playing an important role, particularly in Africa, in helping some of the worlds poorest countries to fight HIV/AIDS and to deal with the challenges of maternal and infant mortality.

Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 87.