Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
341 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the issue of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by virtue of which children have the right to a safe learning environment and to be protected from violence, following recent events in Russia, Chechnya and Palestine. [21929/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring respect for the rights of the child has been of great importance to successive Irish Governments. To this end, Ireland works closely with its EU partners at the international level. Earlier this year, during Ireland's Presidency, the EU co-sponsored a resolution on the rights of the child at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva. Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 28 October 1992. On 18 December 2002, Ireland ratified the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. This convention highlights the particular importance of access to education for children. In this context, ensuring access of children to education in times of violent conflict is very important, as is a safe learning environment.
The rights of the child, as enshrined in the convention, must be applied, without distinction, throughout the jurisdiction of all states party to it, and the right of children to education in safety ensured. As a practical contribution to achieving these ends, my Department, through Development Co-operation Ireland, provides ongoing assistance to the Palestinian Ministry of Education towards meeting the basic education needs of Palestinian children. The Department has also allocated €200,000 to assist the victims of the tragic events in Beslan to provide counselling services for the children and their families
