Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
65 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives the Government is proposing to take to assist the ending of slavery, bonded labour, and particularly child slavery; the talks that have taken place with other governments and institutions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9895/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the active promotion of full observance of universal human rights standards, and opposes and seeks the elimination of all forms of contemporary slavery, including bonded labour. Through our participation in international fora such as the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, we raise our concerns in regard to this issue together with like-minded countries. At the current session of the Commission on Human Rights, 15 March-23 April, we will deliver a Presidency statement on contemporary forms of slavery in which the EU will urge all states to prioritise the eradication of all contemporary forms of slavery and to ensure that the human rights of victims are upheld at all times.
Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote core labour standards. In June 1998, Ireland supported the adoption by the International Labour Conference of a declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work. This commits the International Labour Organisation's 175 member states worldwide to respect the principles inherent in the core labour standards and to promote their universal application. Ireland has ratified all of the seven core labour standards.
This declaration emphasises that all member states of the International Labour Organisation have an obligation, arising from the very fact of membership of the organisation, to respect, to promote, and to realise, in good faith and in accordance with the constitution of the International Labour Organisation, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are subject to those conventions. These principles include the elimination of all forced or compulsory labour and the effective abolition of child labour. In June 1999, the International Labour Conference adopted Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Ireland ratified the convention on 20 December 1999 and was the first European Union country to do so.
The Deputy will also be aware of the priority the Government has attached to "children and armed conflict" and "human rights defenders" as part of the EU Presidency. The issues of children and armed conflict and slavery are closely linked and the role of human rights defenders in highlighting instances of slavery and bonded labour is vital in focusing national and international attention. We are currently overseeing the satisfactory progress of the implementation of EU guidelines on children and armed conflict and EU partners have been circulated with a paper on draft EU guidelines for the support of human rights defenders.
