Human rights are a cornerstone of Ireland's foreign policy. With our European Union partners, we monitor closely the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including the United Nations, the EU and other international organisations, as well as civil society organisations.
The Deputy will be aware of the Government's concerns about indications of continuing human rights abuses in Colombia, where trade unionists, human rights activists and people who were displaced from their lands over the course of the civil conflict are among the vulnerable groups. The efforts of President Santos' administration since August 2010 to improve the situation should, however, be acknowledged. These efforts include the passage of the landmark Victims' Rights and Land Restitution legislation (2011) and a conference on human rights which is scheduled to take place at the end of 2012.
The Deputy will also be aware of the EU's policy of engagement and dialogue with the Government of Colombia. Ireland actively supports this policy. We believe it offers the best way to further the objectives of supporting democracy and improving the human rights situation there. We will continue to monitor the situation and to support the Colombian Government's efforts, both in partnership with the EU and in our bilateral contacts with Colombia.
Ireland is active on human rights issues in Sri Lanka, both at EU level and in the UN Human Rights Council. We were to the fore in the EU decision to suspend GSP+ status for Sri Lankan exports in 2010. We have conveyed our concerns directly to officials at the Sri Lankan Embassy in London and again at the UN in Geneva on 22 March 2012. We support engagement with Sri Lanka to address these issues. It is important, however, that the Sri Lankan Government demonstrates a genuine commitment to the protection of human rights in Sri Lanka, to reconciliation among the country's communities and to a political solution to the divisions on the island.
The particular difficulties faced by the Kurdish population in a number of countries vary from one to the other. We continue to avail, both bilaterally and at EU level, of all appropriate opportunities to engage with the countries concerned on the general human rights situation in each, including specific issues concerning the Kurds and other minorities.
There are minority Kurdish populations in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, each of which has expressed grievances centred on issues of identity. In Iran, Iraq and Turkey, the situation has at various times been greatly complicated by the existence of armed groups seeking an independent Kurdish state. This has led to armed conflict and has exacerbated human rights difficulties. The general human rights situation in Syria and Iran, in particular, is profoundly disturbing; the protection of minority rights in these countries gives rise to particular concern.