Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community, through the aegis of the EU and UN continues to register its abhorrence at attempts to prevent girls and women from achieving a full education in Pakistan, particularly following the shooting of Malala Yousafzai; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15936/13]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply of 20 February concerning this matter.
As the Deputy is aware, the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in October 2012 drew widespread condemnation from all levels of the international community including the EU and UN. The High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, and the Secretary General of the United National Ban Ki Moon issued statements condemning this attack – condemnations which I shared at the time, and continue to share.
Again, I wish to state that I admire Malala Yousufzai’s courageous efforts to promote the fundamental right to education and her efforts to achieve education for women and girls in Pakistan and other regions worldwide.
On 7 March my colleague, Minister for State, Kathleen Lynch met with Mr Shaigan Sharif Malik the Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights while at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York. During this meeting, the Minister of State raised the shooting of Malala Yousufzai and conveyed the shock of Ireland and the international community. In response, Mr Malik conveyed that this event had shocked the whole nation of Pakistan.. He assured the Minister of State that the Pakistani Parliament was acting on women’s issues and considering legal reforms that would tackle minority extremists.
At a recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on the 11 March, Ireland together with our EU partners adopted conclusions which support Pakistan in upholding the rule of law and human rights. Further to this, the Foreign Affairs Council also strongly condemned all acts of violence against women, children and religious minorities and urged the authorities in Pakistan to take the necessary action to protect the rights of all citizens and bring perpetrators to justice.
At UN level, Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and opinion. In addition, as an elected member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the period 2013-2015, Ireland is fully engaged at the UN to ensure that these rights are protected. Pakistan was also recently elected to the HRC for the period 2013-2015, so we will have the opportunity of working closely with them on a range of human rights issues.
I am informed that Malala Yousafzai was discharged from Hospital in February and is recuperating from her injuries well. I am happy to say that she has returned to her education, having started school in Birmingham.
In Ireland’s exchanges with Pakistan, both sides have underlined support for the views espoused by Malala Yousafzai. Ireland and our international partners will continue to support equal access to education for boys and girls and urge the government of Pakistan to fulfil its international and constitutional obligations and protect all citizens’ rights.
