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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 6

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

96 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of locations in respect of which the UN has indicated a concern arising from erosion of human rights; the action or actions taken by the UN to address these issues; Ireland's stance in respect of the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9175/99]

I have stated on a number of occasions that human rights are a priority issue for this Government and a central component of our foreign policy. We believe that the international community has an obligation to act when it has concerns, and that these concerns should be pursued whenever possible in a constructive spirit of co-operation and dialogue, conscious of the responsibility which devolves on all Governments to promote and protect human rights.

The United Nations monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world on a continuing basis, particularly through its system of special rapporteurs and working groups appointed by the UN Commission on Human Rights each year. The 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights commenced its deliberations in Geneva on 22 March last and it will continue its work until 30 April next.

This is one of the most important events in the human rights calendar. Delegations from 140 countries and over 200 non-governmental organisations will attend the meetings of the Commission. It is expected to produce over 200 documents and adopt approximately 80 resolutions, of which 16 will concern specific countries and 24 will concern thematic issues.

In addition to being a member of the Commission, Ireland has, for the first time, been selected to chair this session. Our Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Anderson, will be presiding over the proceedings in Geneva over the next five weeks and her selection is both a recognition of the consistent and progressive policies on human rights adopted by successive Irish Governments and a measure of the ambassador's own standing at the United Nations in Geneva.

The EU normally sponsors the majority of the country resolutions at the Commission and this year will table country resolutions on Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. The EU will also table thematic resolutions on the rights of the child and on the question of the death penalty. Ireland will actively contribute to the drafting of these resolutions and we will also table our traditional resolution on the elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief. Ireland will also support those resolutions tabled by other members of the Commission which, in our view, will benefit human rights.

Other country situations to be addressed by the Commission include, inter alia, Colombia, Kosovo, East Timor, Palestine, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Burundi, Cuba and Cyprus.

The EU Presidency will also deliver, on behalf of the 15 member states, a general statement on human rights at the Commission. This statement is currently being finalised and will be delivered in the coming days. Ireland's delegation has played a significant role in the drafting of this EU statement and has worked to ensure that our concerns are reflected therein.

We believe that applying concerted international pressure through multilateral organisations, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, is one of the most effective means of highlighting and combating human rights abuses.

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