Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Human Rights Issues.

Denis Naughten

Question:

435 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Peruvian Congress on 10 June 2003 adopted the AQV report on forced sterilisation; if he has satisfied himself with the UNFPA role in Peru; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I have recently received representations alleging that the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA, was involved in supporting forced sterilisations in Peru. It was alleged that a report confirming UNFPA's involvement had been adopted by the Peruvian Congress on 10 June 2003. This report entitled, Subcomision Investigadora de Personas e Institutionas en las Acciones de Anticoncepcion Quirurigica Voluntaria, AQV, maintains that a forced sterilisation campaign had been operational in Peru from 1990 to 2000, with the support of the UNFPA and the Peruvian Administration which was in power at that time.

I asked our permanent mission to the UN to raise the claim with UNFPA that the AQV report was adopted by the Peruvian Congress. UNFPA replied that, at its meeting on 10 June 2003, the Human Rights Commission of the Peruvian Congress did not adopt the AQV report. It was simply discussed, and a motion was passed inviting the minister of health and the chairman of the council of ministers of Peru to a subsequent meeting of the commission to discuss this issue further.

To put the AQV report in context, a sub-committee of the Peruvian Congress, created to examine the claims made in the AQV report, submitted its final report in January 2003. It concluded that the charges were invalid and were based on "error and misinformation". The sub-committee evaluated all the testimonies and documents it had received as evidence. Based on that, it reported that the complaints against UNFPA were "devoid of any foundation." The report concluded: "In the area of family planning, UNFPA supports national programmes so that all people will have full and accurate information that enables them to exercise the right to decide freely and responsibly on the number of their children and when they will have them, as well as access to the services for doing so, both by artificial methods and by natural methods."

I am satisfied that the UNFPA abides by its internationally agreed mandate, which specifically forbids coercion, and that its programmes both in Peru and around the world are based on the principles of voluntarism. My officials will continue to monitor closely the activities of the UNFPA, including allegations relating to UNFPA's programme in Peru.