asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present position regarding the drafting of a United Nations Convention against Religious Discrimination; the policy of the Irish Government in this regard; and if, in view of the abnormal delay in completing the work of drafting, which has been proceeding since the sixties, he will request the EEC to give this greater priority at the UN.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Religious Discrimination Convention.
18.
The General Assembly of the United Nations initiated the drafting of a declaration and a convention on the subject of religious discrimination in 1962. In 1972, in the absence of any progress in reaching agreement on texts, particularly that of a convention, the Assembly decided to give priority to drafting a declaration. So far the working group of the Commission on Human Rights, to which this task was entrusted, has reached agreement only on the title and preamble of a draft declaration on the elimination of all forces of intolerence and of discrimination based on religion or belief.
The Government attach great importance to the elaboration of international instruments on this subject. Irish delegations to the General Assembly have consistently worked to endeavour to speed up the drafting of a declaration, as the first step towards the elaboration of a convention, and have regularly co-sponsored resolutions to this end. At the most recent session of the General Assembly, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution expressing regret that the Commission on Human Rights had not completed work on the draft declaration and requesting the Commission to give high priority to this task. This resolution was co-sponsored by a number of our partners in the European Community and supported by all members of the Community, who share our concern at the lack of progress.
Although I would not like to hold out the hope that agreement will be reached on texts in the near future, in view of the lack of support on the part of some states for a declaration or convention on religious discrimination, prospects for progress seems slightly better at present than they have been, and I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to promote progress in any way they can.