Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
1164. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the human rights abuses which are being inflicted upon the community of Caquetá in Colombia due to a campaign the community has conducted against the imposition of an oil company in the area; and if he is satisfied that this is an environment in which Irish business should be encouraged to invest. [30459/15]
View answerI am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. When I met with the Colombian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Patti Londoño, in Dublin on 18 June 2015 I raised the human rights situation in Colombia with her, emphasising the importance Ireland places on protecting trades unionists, human rights defenders, journalists and others. I also raised a number of specific cases with the Vice-Minister. Officers from our Embassy in Mexico regularly discuss human rights issues with government interlocutors during their visits to Colombia and meet with international and local civil society organisations working on human rights issues there, including on environmental rights.
Irish Aid provides funding to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia which is specifically targeted to their work in the south-west of Colombia. The Embassy of Ireland in Mexico also oversees Irish Aid funding to a number of civil society organisations in Colombia, with a focus on the protection of human rights defenders and raising awareness of violations.
Human rights in Colombia are a major concern for the EU, including Ireland and other member states, and are addressed in detail in the context of the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue. Through this mechanism, which addresses the subject directly with the Colombian authorities at official level, the EU engages in a structured manner across the full range of human rights issues, including human rights defenders and trade unionists, prisoners, land restitution and environmental issues. I believe that our policy of regular engagement, dialogue, and scrutiny within this structured framework is the best way to promote human rights in Colombia.
The EU-Colombia/Peru Free Trade Agreement contains mechanisms for stakeholder consultation in relation to initiatives that could have consequences for labour and/or the environment. The implementation of the Agreement is overseen by a Trade Committee. Officials from our Embassy in Mexico participated in a meeting of the Trade Committee in Bogotá in June 2015, at which questions of civil society participation, sustainable development, labour and environmental rights were discussed directly with Colombian and Peruvian officials.
All of this engagement takes place in a difficult context. Colombia faces a significant challenge in overcoming decades of violence. Peace talks are continuing in Havana between the government and the main guerrilla organisation.
