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Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Questions (368, 369)

James Browne

Question:

368. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the practice of organ harvesting from members of a group (details supplied) and other prisoners of conscience in China; the actions he has taken to address the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17995/20]

View answer

James Browne

Question:

369. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the European Parliament resolution (2013/2981(RSP) of 12 December 2013 on organ harvesting in China; the actions being taken to advance the objectives set in the resolution;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17996/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.

The Government closely follows reports of persecutions against Falun Gong practitioners, including allegations of organ harvesting, and officials in my Department have met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on a number of occasions. 

Ireland frequently raises human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities in both bilateral meetings and in appropriate multilateral fora, including rights related to freedom of religion or belief. Ireland joined a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee in New York in October 2019 which called on China to uphold its national laws and international obligations and commitments to respect human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, across China. 

The EU also regularly discuss human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities, including through the annual EU-China Summit which took place on 22 June this year. During this Summit the EU raised its concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation in China, including restrictions on fundamental freedoms, as well as the treatment of ethnic minorities and human rights defenders.

The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue is the primary formal framework through which Ireland and other EU Member States share with China our experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and strongly urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation there. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 1-2 April 2019, and the EU raised a number of issues relating to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the rights of persons belonging to minorities, freedom of expression and association, arbitrary detention, and the death penalty.

New laws on organ donation came into force in China at the beginning of 2015 with a view to ending the practice of forced organ transplants, including from prisoners. The Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, in cooperation with our EU partners, continues to monitor the implementation of this legislation. 

Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing, and through the relevant multilateral channels.

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