Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2012
82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that a resolution of the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a key objective of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57269/12]
View answer83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at the UN Human Rights Council the ongoing violations of human rights within the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57270/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.
I share the widespread concerns about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The European Union is working actively to support efforts to bring peace and stability to the country, and this will remain an important foreign policy priority for the EU during Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2013.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been ravaged by a long series of violent conflicts. Millions of innocent civilians have been killed, injured or displaced from their homes and there have been systematic abuses of human rights, extremely high levels of sexual violence, and widespread recruitment and use of child soldiers. The latest upsurge in violence, since the early summer, has been driven by the so-called M23 group which has been responsible for a campaign of violence which has caused many deaths and significant displacement and trauma. The EU has repeatedly called on the M23 to end its campaign of violence and we have also condemned and called for an end to external support for the group.
The EU is playing a constructive and significant role in ongoing efforts to deal with the crisis. Developments in the DRC are regularly discussed by EU Foreign Ministers. We adopted strong formal Conclusions on the situation in the DRC at the Foreign Affairs Council in November and again more recently on 10 December. We are supporting the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region which are taking the lead on efforts to end the conflict in the eastern DRC. The EU is also providing a programme of support for the DRC authorities aimed at strengthening their capacities to promote better governance and the rule of law. This programme focuses on institutional reform and democracy, physical infrastructure and security sector reform, including within the Congolese Armed Forces.
Historically, Ireland has played its part in working for peace and justice in the DRC. In recent years, we have focused in particular on providing support for the humanitarian response to the conflict. So far this year, Ireland has provided some €8.23 million in humanitarian support, including €3.5 million allocated this month to the Common Humanitarian Fund, a UN-administered fund which is allocated to projects by the resident UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC. In addition, Irish Aid has also provided funds to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for its work to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance across the country. Further funding has been made available to NGO partners such as Concern, Christian Aid and Oxfam. Earlier this month, these three NGOs also benefitted from an emergency airlift of humanitarian supplies in response to the serious situation in North Kivu in the eastern DRC, with 18,000 blankets, 600 tarpaulins and 500 tents dispatched from Irish Aid’s pre-positioned stocks in Dubai to help those displaced by the recent fighting.
A very strong focus of our concern and attention in the DRC is, and will remain, on the human rights situation. The DRC is a country which has commanded significant attention from the UN Human Rights Council and from the Human Rights Commission which preceded the establishment of the Council. As well as regular reviews of the overall country situation, there has been a very specific focus on mapping human rights violations during conflict and on the phenomenon of sexual violence and its impact on victims. The Government is committed to working with other members of the Human Rights Council, and with the DRC authorities, during our membership term to highlight human rights issues in the DRC and to support efforts to ensure respect for and protection of human rights in the country.
