Skip to main content
Normal View

Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 April 2014

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Questions (5)

Seán Crowe

Question:

5. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, which called for an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the last war on the island; and if he would be in favour of placing sanctions on Sri Lanka if it refuses to co-operate with this resolution. [15687/14]

View answer

Written answers

On 27 March 2014, Ireland, as an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), voted in favour of the resolution referred to by the Deputy, entitled "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka". Of the 47 members of the Council, 23 voted in favour, 12 voted against and 12 abstained. The resolution was tabled by the United States, the United Kingdom, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mauritius and Montenegro. The resolution requests that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights undertake, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedures, a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Government of Sri Lanka's own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). In the course of intergovernmental negotiations on the text, Ireland was among those countries arguing for the strongest possible response by the Human Rights Council to the alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights carried out by both sides during the conflict in Sri Lanka. We believe that the final text represents a good outcome, even if we would have preferred an even more robust stand-alone investigation mechanism.

In previous resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council, the Council called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfil its relevant legal obligations and commitments to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans. Regrettably, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in her report of February 2014, the Government of Sri Lanka took only limited and piecemeal steps towards investigating serious allegations of violations, and none of these had the independence or credibility required.

In a statement to the Council delivered by the Permanent Representative of Ireland on 26 March, prior to the adoption of the resolution, Ireland expressed support for the conclusions drawn by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard and urged the Government of Sri Lanka to listen to the concerns of the Council and to accept fully the recommendations made by the High Commissioner. Ireland called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner in the implementation of this latest resolution and we hope that cooperation will be forthcoming. At the same time, we note that there are precedents for similar investigations being carried out without the cooperation of the State concerned, and have every confidence in the ability of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake a comprehensive investigation, as it has been mandated to do.

The High Commissioner will present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session, in September 2014, and a comprehensive report will be presented to the twenty-eighth session, in March 2015. It is premature to discuss the question of sanctions or any other measures. Ireland has every confidence in the ability of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake a comprehensive investigation, as it has been mandated to do.

Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, answered orally.
Top
Share