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UN Committees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Questions (164)

Brendan Smith

Question:

164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the resolution entitled civil society space; creating and maintaining, in law and in practice a safe and enabling environment, at the Human Rights Council of the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4285/14]

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Written answers

Ireland’s three-year membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council, from 2013 - 2015, presents an opportunity to make an enhanced contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Ireland is committed to defending the universality of human rights, and one of our key priorities is the promotion and protection of space for civil society to operate, free from harassment and intimidation.

Civil society actors have come under increasing pressure in many parts of the world in recent years. In some countries, dialogue with civil society remains limited, and the space for civil society engagement is narrow or shrinking. Restrictive legislation and repressive practices in some countries have led to stigmatisation, harassment, and even criminalisation of civil society actors.

As part of our commitment to the protection of civil society space, Ireland took the lead, with the support of a cross-regional group of member states consisting of Chile, Japan, Sierra Leone, and Tunisia, on a new draft resolution entitled ‘Civil society space; creating and maintaining, in law and in practice a safe and enabling environment’ at the most recent session of the Human Rights Council in September 2013.

The creation and maintenance of space for civil society is inextricably linked to the ability of individuals to exercise their fundamental right to the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, opinion and expression. This resolution addresses, for the first time at the Human Rights Council, the issue of civil society space as a human rights concern, underlining the importance of the contribution of civil society in so many aspects of our lives, and calling on States to create and maintain, in law and practice, a safe and enabling environment in which civil society can operate effectively. The draft resolution was the subject of difficult and politically sensitive negotiations. Ireland successfully defended the draft resolution against several hostile amendments, paving the way for it to be adopted by the Council without a vote.

On foot of the resolution, a panel discussion will be held during the next session of the Human Rights Council, in March 2014, on the challenges facing States in their efforts to ensure space for civil society, and lessons learnt and good practices in this regard. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is organising this panel discussion, which has been scheduled to take place on 11 March 2014. The Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in Geneva has been working closely with OHCHR in relation to the ongoing preparations for this event.

The resolution further requests OHCHR to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session in September 2014. Building on this report, Ireland intends to work with its partners to lead a further resolution on civil society space at the Human Rights Council. We will also continue, through our development cooperation programme, to use our voice, influence and partnerships to protect and promote the ability of civil society organizations to operate.

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