Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
330. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role that freedom of religion and belief plays in Ireland’s international human rights advocacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47474/21]
View answerIreland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We are committed to promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief, as affirmed in ‘The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World’. This commitment is demonstrated in particular through our engagement in multilateral fora, including the UN Human Rights Council.
At the 43rd and 46th sessions of the Human Rights Council, in June 2020 and March 2021 respectively, Ireland led for the European Union in negotiations on the resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief. At the 43rd session, Ireland also delivered a statement responding to the report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which focused on the interplay between freedom of religion or belief, gender equality and non-discrimination. At the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland again delivered a national statement responding to a report by the Special Rapporteur, which focused on anti-Muslim hatred.
More recently, on 22 September, at a UN High Level event on the Durban Declaration that marked the 20th Anniversary of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Ireland expressed our deep concern at the alarming proliferation of religious intolerance, and its contribution to the denial of human rights, and indeed to fuelling conflict. We welcomed that the Political Declaration adopted on 22 September condemned prejudices based on religion or belief, including hatred or discrimination of an anti-Christian; anti-Muslim; or anti-semitic nature, amongst others.
Ireland is also a member of the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, a cross-regional and informal network that aims to encourage information sharing and cooperation between governments on joint advocacy strategies in the promotion and protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief internationally.
