John Brady
Question:54. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he plans to take in response to the treatment of the Uighur people in China. [18532/20]
View answerTuesday, 28 July 2020
Questions (54)
Written answers
Ireland and our EU partners, share a deep concern about the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, including reports of restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, and recent allegations of forced sterilisation in the region.
Ireland has been clear about expressing our concerns at this situation, along with other partners in the international community. Ireland was one of 27 States to join a Joint Statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 30 June 2020 which reiterates our concerns, and urges China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also called on the High Commissioner to provide regular information about the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.
Ireland has previously joined a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee in October 2019, and a Joint Letter at the UN Human Rights Council in July 2019, which outlined our concerns in the region. The Joint Statement called for the Chinese Government to urgently implement eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, including by refraining from the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities. The Joint Letter called on the Chinese Government to uphold its international obligations, and to respect human rights in Xinjiang.
The treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang was also raised at EU level during the EU-China Summit on 22 June 2020, and during an EU statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 1 July 2020.
The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora as appropriate.