Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland proposes to focus on major human rights black spots globally through its membership of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24672/21]
View answerIreland assumed its seat on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2021. We are committed to actively supporting human rights across the full Council agenda, which includes some 20 thematic files and 30 country and regional files.
Three core principles underpin our approach: Building Peace, Strengthening Conflict Prevention and Ensuring Accountability.
As part of our approach to ensuring accountability, Ireland is committed to promoting respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law, prioritising the protection of civilians, supporting the fight against impunity, and standing by the International Criminal Court.
Many of the countries on the Security Council agenda face serious human rights challenges, and this is an important consideration in our work on country-specific items.
UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions play an essential role in protecting civilians and promoting respect for human rights, and Ireland will continue to support their crucial work in this area.
We will continue to promote accountability and compliance with international human rights law in our engagement on thematic issues, and in our work on Security Council subsidiary bodies.
Ireland is an active participant in the Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). The Working Group recently adopted the first set of Conclusions on South Sudan which included strengthened language on humanitarian access, the best interests of the child, and on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. Ireland will continue to seek to further mainstream child protection across the work of the Council during our term.
Ireland is also actively engaged on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and is co-chairing the Informal Expert Group on WPS. On 8 March, Ireland hosted an informal Security Council meeting on the need to ensure the full, meaningful and equal participation of women in UN-led peace processes.
We will also seek to promote interaction between the Security Council and Geneva-based UN bodies.
