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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 5

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Ceist:

33 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the Government has taken to draw attention of the Government of Pakistan to the appalling human rights violations which are perpetrated on women in Pakistan; if he will bring to the attention of the Council of Ministers the absolute opposition of the European Union to the system of justice as it applies to women in Pakistan; if these violations have been brought to the attention of the Pakistan ambassador or representative to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3225/99]

Ceist:

44 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the Government has taken to draw attention of the Government of Pakistan to the appalling human rights violations which are perpetrated on women in Pakistan; if he will bring to the attention of the Council of Ministers the absolute opposition of the European Union to the system of justice as it applies to women in Pakistan; if these violations have been brought to the attention of the Pakistan ambassador or representative to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3224/99]

David Andrews

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.

I am concerned about the plight of some women in Pakistan. Pakistan has acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. I accordingly urge the Pakistani authorities to honour fully the commitments entered into under this convention. I also hope that they are considering very carefully the recommendations set out in the report by their own Commission of Inquiry for Women published in March 1997.

The human rights situation in Pakistan was one of the issues raised at the political dialogue between the EU and Pakistan which was held in Vienna on 25 November 1998. At this meeting, the EU stressed that all forms of discrimination, including gender discrimination, were unacceptable in today's world.

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