I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
Working through global organisations such as the United Nations or regional bodies such as the EU or the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe, the international community is able to bring positive influence to bear in the search for political solutions to conflict situations around the world.
As part of Ireland’s foreign policy we are working to alleviate instances of war, starvation, famine, genocide, ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses, and to enhance international peace and security. We do this in direct contact with other countries or multilaterally through our involvement in these global and regional organisations.
Meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council provide regular opportunities at which to consider such issues and the responses of the EU and the wider international community to them. The EU has adopted Common Positions on certain countries, which attach priority to promoting human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. I should point out however, that there is no recognised “top ten” list in regard to the violations outlined by the Deputy. The Council is also the body which takes decisions in relation to the EU’s crisis management actions, such as the launching of new EU missions or significant changes to the 14 existing Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions - 11 of which are civilian operations.
Human rights concerns are central to Ireland’s foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries, including post-conflict countries. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question.
Ireland supports the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses. This includes support for the role of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures Mandate Holders and for the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. At the UN, the EU regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in individual countries and Ireland is, of course, fully associated with these statements.
The establishment of a number of international courts and tribunals in recent years to deal with situations where the most serious crimes of concern to the international community have been committed represents a recognition on the part of the international community that such courts and tribunals are an essential means of ending a culture of impunity and of ensuring respect for international law, in particular international humanitarian law and human rights law. Among the various courts and tribunals which have been set up are the ad hoc criminal tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The first permanent international court established to deal with crimes of this nature is the International Criminal Court. It was established in 2002 with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. By its very existence, the Court promotes and upholds not only the rule of law but also provides a means to bring to account the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and in this way contributes in a most fundamental way to the cause of international peace and justice. Ireland and its EU partners are strong and consistent supporters of the International Criminal Court.
The Government is committed to the promotion of full observance of universal human rights standards. Active participation in multilateral organisations including the EU, UN and the Council of Europe provides us with an opportunity to voice our concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for violation of human rights. Ireland will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.
The delivery of aid and support to people in such cases is becoming increasingly challenging, particularly in situations of protracted and recurring conflict. We are witnessing increasing incidences of humanitarian action coming under attack, with those who control territory, funding, or access to weaponry being able to harass, politicise, militarise and undermine the work of humanitarian agencies. The Government is firmly committed to breaking this cycle of violence in which humanitarians are attacked and their vital work undermined in breach of international humanitarian law.
For this reason, Ireland is firmly attached to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence and we very much recognise the importance of protecting the so-called ‘humanitarian space’. Ireland is also a strong advocate of the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative and the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid; both involve solid commitments to ensure an appropriate, principled and effective aid response. During our Presidency of the EU, we will champion these principles and emphasise the need for all parties to a conflict to facilitate humanitarian access and aid delivery to people in need, to ensure the neutrality of humanitarian aid and to abide by international humanitarian law.
For our part, Ireland ensures that our aid is delivered in a targeted manner through a process of prioritisation that assesses needs in the humanitarian crises across the globe. This is informed by Commission analysis, UN and other indicators, most recent situation reports and up-to-date feedback from the field. This helps us to allocate our emergency funding to the most vulnerable populations in a principled, transparent and effective manner. In 2013, Afghanistan, Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Niger, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen are among those countries ranked as priorities. It is also expected that the deepening humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region will be an important focus in 2013.
