Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
25. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has decided on any specific issues to bring forward in the coming months on the UN Human Rights Council. [8853/13]
View answerIreland’s membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) presents an opportunity to enhance our reputation internationally and to make a meaningful contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. During our three-year membership of the HRC, we will seek to add value to the work of the Council and to strengthen the institution itself. Ireland’s approach to membership of the HRC will be guided by the pledges and commitments made during our election campaign, which reflect our well-established human rights priorities. These include the following: defending the universality of human rights; freedom of expression (particularly on the internet); freedom of religion or belief; LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) rights; peace building and conflict resolution; the human rights situation in the Middle East; strengthening the UN Human Rights Treaty Body System; the promotion and protection of human rights defenders; the promotion and protection of an enabling environment for civil society; and women’s rights, combating discrimination and Gender-Based Violence
We will also highlight the importance of ensuring that human rights considerations underpin all areas of development, with a particular focus on combating hunger, health and education. We will respond proactively to emerging human rights situations and themes, including emergency situations, and we will play an active role in the Council’s three yearly sessions (March, June and September) and in the sessions of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) examinations, during which countries’ human rights records are examined. Ireland will continue to promote and defend the work of the Treaty Bodies and the Human Rights Council Special Procedures and in particular, the independence of those bodies and of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
We will work to strengthen the Council as the key institution in the UN human rights framework, including through helping to protect the right of civil society organisations to participate fully in the Council sessions and to prevent reprisals against them. As the UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, has remarked, “A dynamic and autonomous civil society, able to operate freely, is one of the fundamental checks and balances necessary for building a healthy society, and one of the key bridges between governments and their people.” Civil society consists of many actors, including NGOs, academics, journalists, bloggers, students, trade unions, labour organisations and charities working with vulnerable groups. No matter how they define themselves, however, civil society actors have a legitimate role as human rights defenders. They play a key role in a collaborative effort with government and international institutions to ensure human rights protection. We intend to advance the promotion and protection of an enabling environment for civil society during our term on the HRC, building on a successful event held during the September 2012 session in relation to consolidation of the space for civil society.
In practical terms, our membership may be divided into two parts: the EU Presidency (January-June 2013) and the post-Presidency period (July 2013-December 2015). During the EU Presidency semester, the main role for Ireland at the Human Rights Council will be to act as a lead negotiator for the EU, in partnership with the European External Action Service, on the most important draft resolutions on the Council agenda. As a Council member and as Presidency, we will work to fulfil our obligations and responsibilities, helping to ensure that the EU more widely, and Ireland in particular, are strong and effective voices for the robust promotion and protection of human rights.
