Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Questions (56, 57)

Gerry Adams

Question:

85 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he acknowledges that arms sales from China and Russia are fuelling serious human rights violations in Darfur whose exports include significant quantities of ammunition, helicopter gunships, attack aircrafts, air-to-ground rockets and armoured vehicles; his views that the conflict in Darfur is sustained by the constant flow of weapons from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9615/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

We remain seriously concerned by the persistence of the conflict in Darfur and the continuing suffering of the people in the region. The UN estimates that, since 2003, the violence in Darfur has resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 people and the displacement of nearly three million.

In March 2005, the UN Security Council extended an existing arms embargo to include the Sudanese Government forces active in the region, and any other belligerents in North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur. Ireland takes the clear position that this embargo must be observed and that all States must fulfil their obligations under international law, including human rights and humanitarian law. We and our EU partners believe that the best hope for an improvement in the conditions facing the people of Darfur is through the full implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, which was agreed between the Sudanese Government and rebel groups in May 2011 and which sets out a comprehensive framework for an end to the conflict. It addresses issues such as arms proliferation and it sets out measures for disarmament and arms control in Darfur. The EU Foreign Affairs Council last month, which was attended by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, examined the situation in Darfur. Ministers stressed the importance of implementation of the Doha Document and emphasised that a lasting and comprehensive peace settlement can only be achieved with the involvement of all stakeholders in Darfur. They also expressed the readiness of the European Union to support recovery programmes as and when there are improvements in the security environment, and reaffirmed our support for the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, UNAMID.

Ireland and our EU partners have consistently urged all rebel movements to engage in the peace process and have called on the Government of Sudan to keep open the door to peace. On behalf of the Government, I do so again today. It is essential that we retain a focus on the need for accountability for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Darfur and the obligation on the Government of Sudan and all UN member States to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court.

Pearse Doherty

Question:

86 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent raid by the Ugandan Government on a workshop run by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists in Entebbe, Uganda; his views that this is a blatant infringement of human rights and if he will be calling publicly on the Ugandan Government to end the ongoing harassment of persons involved in such lawful activities. [9614/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

The Government shares the Deputy's concerns in relation to the situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons and activists in Uganda and we have consistently made our views on these issues known to the Ugandan authorities. I am aware of the recent incident in Entebbe in which a human rights defenders' workshop was disrupted.

More generally, we are concerned about reports of ongoing harassment against LGBT activists and individuals in Uganda, and we view the recent reintroduction in the Ugandan Parliament of a Private Members Bill seeking to criminalise homosexuality as of particular concern. The Deputy will be aware that a previous Private Members Bill raised similar concerns for us and we made our views known very clearly at Government level in Uganda. This bill was not followed through and did not have the support of the Government of Uganda.

Ireland has been actively engaged with the Ugandan Government for some time in highlighting the human rights implications of this draft legislation, and pointing out that the passage of any such law would be in conflict with Uganda's international human rights obligations and would damage relations with international partners.

Ireland has also consistently raised the issue locally through our Ambassador in Kampala, and we will continue to use every opportunity to raise the matter as an issue of human rights. Our Ambassador in Kampala has also engaged with local human rights groups in order to hear how best the international community should support the cause of human rights defenders in this area and we have been active in our support for individual defenders who have reported harassment and threats on the basis of sexual orientation.

We have communicated to the Ugandan Government that we believe that this issue has the potential to undermine and blemish Uganda's human rights reputation both domestically and internationally.

Ireland, in conjunction with our EU partners and the donor community, remains committed to ensuring that the citizens of Uganda do not suffer violence or discrimination on the grounds of their sexual orientation.