The fuel allowance scheme referred to by the Deputy is a scheme administered by the National Protection Unit, which operates under the Colombian Ministry of the Interior. The purpose of the fuel allowance scheme is to facilitate trade union leaders and human rights defenders using protective vehicles as they carry out their difficult and dangerous work. It is my understanding that the number of human rights defenders covered by the National Protection Unit has increased and that this increase has put pressure on the allocation currently in place for the programmes it manages. This has in turn had the impact of reducing the resources available for the fuel allowance scheme. I encourage the participants involved in the protection programme and the Colombian Government to continue to engage in discussions so as to ensure that this and other aspects of the national protection programme operate effectively.
Ireland and our EU partners believe that the safety of human rights defenders and the protection of their rights must be ensured in Colombia, as elsewhere. Support for human rights defenders is therefore a strong element of our dialogue with the Colombian authorities. When I met earlier this year with Colombia’s Vice President, I raised with him the concerns of the Irish Government about reports of human rights abuses and the dangers faced by human rights activists and trade unionists. I urged that the Government of Colombia take all measures necessary to gain the trust and confidence of all of its people in order to support the peace process there.
The decision by the Colombian Government in 2009 to treble the budget of the protection programme for human rights defenders to US$47 million was a positive development. I also welcome the establishment last year of the National Protection Unit to manage initiatives aimed at the protection of human rights defenders, trade union representatives, witnesses and other vulnerable groups in Colombian society. I have asked the Irish Ambassador accredited to Colombia to monitor these initiatives and to keep me informed of developments.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
In terms of financial support for sustainable development in Colombia, including with regard to the particular vulnerability of human rights defenders, Irish Aid funding of some €3.5 million has been provided since 2009 to support the work of civil society organisations and Irish missionaries in Colombia. This funding has had a particular focus on human rights, including human rights defenders, and peace-building. Together with EU and UN partners, Ireland will continue to support the efforts of the people and Government of Colombia to bring an end to violence in their country and to secure a sustainable peace which tackles the various social and economic elements underlying the conflict and improves progressively human rights standards.