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Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Questions (129)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which international monitoring takes place in the matter of allegations of human rights abuses in Iran; if the EU or UN has established a position in respect of specific or general instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25546/13]

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Written answers

Every year since 2004, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution expressing its grave concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. In 2011 a mandate for a UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran was created by the Human Rights Council. According to the Special Rapporteur’s report of February 2013 there continue to be widespread and systematic violations of human rights in Iran. His report presents in detail a situation in which civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are undermined and violated both in law and practice. Moreover, a lack of Government investigation and redress generally fosters a culture of impunity, further weakening the impact of the international human rights instruments which Iran has ratified.

The Special Rapporteur has sought to visit Iran in order to engage in dialogue and further investigate allegations of human rights violations. However, the Iranian government has not yet granted him access. Representatives of my Department met with the Special Rapporteur in March of this year and discussed his concerns. Ireland and the EU strongly supported the extension of his mandate at the Human Rights Council and will continue to push for his being allowed access to Iran.

The EU is also very concerned by the deterioration of Iran's human rights situation, even more so since the crackdown which followed the 2009 presidential elections. In response to the worsening human rights situation, the EU in 2011 agreed sanctions – including a travel ban and asset freeze – against certain named people complicit in or responsible for grave human rights violations in Iran. EU High Representative Ashton has made a number of statements regarding specific human rights cases in Iran, most recently in January and February of this year. The EU's principal and consistent policy has been to call on Iran to live up to the international human rights standards to which it has freely subscribed.

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