Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2021
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he expects the UN to become involved in addressing human rights abuses on a worldwide scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47401/21]
View answer219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he plans to create an urgent awareness of human rights abuses of women and children across the globe with particular reference to the need to restore the status of the UN to the levels needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47402/21]
View answer220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the UN can be encouraged to focus on major human rights abuses and the abuse and trafficking of women and children at various locations worldwide; if such issues can be referred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague to deal with such matters in the short and medium-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47403/21]
View answer221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and location of the top 20 most serious locations for human rights abuses worldwide at present with particular reference to conflict zones; the action taken or proposed to be taken by the international community to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47404/21]
View answer222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the UN can be encouraged to react quickly to conflict situations on a global basis having particular regard to the need for the intervention of such a body in such circumstances to prevent ethnic cleansing, genocide and all forms of human rights abuses with particular reference to the need to bring the perpetrators in cases in which they have been identified before the international courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47405/21]
View answer223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when sufficient action can be taken to ensure that the UN can have a strong hand in the future to deal with ethnic cleansing, genocide and all other forms of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47406/21]
View answer224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the UN can be restructured to deal with the protection of civilians in conflict zones thereby restoring its status to pre-Balkan war levels with particular reference to the need to protect women and children in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47407/21]
View answer225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is aware of large-scale human rights abuses across the globe; if steps are being taken or there are plans for the UN to become involved in such situations at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47408/21]
View answer226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which elected parliamentarians are subjected to human rights abuses globally at present; the extent to which the international community, through the UN or EU can interject to protect the rights of such victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47409/21]
View answer227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland can take steps at a UN or EU level to address the extent to which members and leaders of elected opposition parties are subjected to imprisonment, isolation or other human rights abuses contrary to international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47410/21]
View answer229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the top twenty locations globally where the UN, Amnesty International or other bodies involved in the protection of human rights have identified abuses that need urgent action; the response proposed by the UN, the EU or others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47412/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 227, inclusive, and 229 together.
Ireland is a strong contributor to strengthening United Nations and European Union efforts to eliminate human rights violations. The rights of women and children are central to our engagement and especially so in regards to conflict zones where risks of child recruitment or trafficking in persons are particularly prevalent.
Conflict continues to fuel human rights violations and abuses across much of the world, and remains the most significant driver of humanitarian crises, while the number and complexity of these crises globally continues to increase. Each conflict is unique in its character, scale and complexity, and as such cannot be ranked by any single set of criteria of severity.
This month alone, at the UN Security Council, Ireland has highlighted human rights issues in meetings relating to: climate and security; small arms and light weapons; UN peacekeeping transitions, as well as in regard to conflicts in Afghanistan; Libya; South Sudan; Sudan; Syria and Yemen.
The particular human rights violations and abuses encountered by women and children, including sexual and gender based violence issue, crosscuts all of our engagement on both conflict and human rights. In addition to co-chairing the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, Ireland is also a member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict which addresses the issue of child soldiers and ensures follow up of the recommendations at country level.
Longer-term, we also support the reform of the Security Council itself and continue our efforts in this regard.
Ireland also has a long tradition of contributing to UN and EU peace-support missions, including in some of the world’s most complex and intractable conflicts. Ireland has maintained a continuous presence in UN peace support operations since 1958, and has more than 550 personnel in United Nations mandated missions overseas. The Government is committed to participation in peacekeeping operations as a tangible contribution to the development of global peace and security.
On 9 September, I was very pleased to preside over the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 2594 on peacekeeping transitions that was drafted and negotiated by Ireland. This important resolution provides a framework for ensuring that the reconfiguration of a UN presence is properly planned for and resourced, particularly with respect to protecting civilians and upholding human rights. It also encourages national governments to develop national plans, policies and strategies for the protection of civilians.
Ireland also engages actively at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). At the 47th session of the Council beginning on 21 June, Ireland made national statements on a broad range of thematic issues and country-specific human rights situations including in regard to violence against women. Ireland’s Ambassador also delivered a national statement in response to the report from UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Professor Siobhán Mullally, with whom my Department meets regularly. Ireland provides core funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with whom we work in partnership on the many aspects of counter-trafficking responses including prevention, protection, and prosecution
At the ongoing 48th session of the Human Rights Council Ireland’s national statement under item four highlighted grave concerns about the human rights and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan; Tigray and neighbouring regions of Ethiopia; the occupied Palestinian territory; and Yemen. It additionally highlighted our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Belarus and Myanmar where elected politicians, together with media and civil society face severe restrictions on their rights to freedom of movement and expression. In the context of increased authoritarian restrictions globally, Ireland will also join a Joint Statement supporting the right to peaceful protest.
Ireland is also member of the core group presenting the HRC resolution in response to the current report from the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen. This is the only UN mandated international, independent mechanism working towards accountability for the Yemeni people. Our Ambassador also intervened in response to reports from the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and the Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
At European Union (EU) level, Ireland is an active participant and contributor to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which works globally to support the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security. Human Rights issues feature prominently at the meetings I attend at the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
In addition, my officials engage extensively on human rights issues at the relevant Council-level working parties including on the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime which strengthens the EU’s ability to take collective action against perpetrators of human rights violations. Ireland’s Embassies also engage actively in support of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-24); on EU led Human Rights dialogues; and through financial support from Irish Aid in relevant countries.
Ireland prioritises accountability, including for crimes such as genocide or ethnic cleansing, not only as a means of pursuing justice for victims, but also as a crucial component to create stability and peace in post-conflict situations. A strong international criminal justice system is central to fighting impunity. While states bear the primary responsibility to investigate the most serious international crimes, including war crimes and genocide, Ireland regards the International Criminal Court as the cornerstone of such a system. Ireland, together with its EU partners is a consistent and strong supporter of the Court. We will continue to support and defend the Court throughout and beyond our term on the United Nations Security Council, whilst ensuring that accountability remains one of the key principles underpinning our engagement at all levels.
