Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2015
200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the UN Human Rights Council the plight of those affected by the atrocities of Boko Haram; the actions taken at an EU level to tackle these atrocities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2013/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am appalled by ongoing reports of outrageous acts of violence perpetrated in Nigeria by the terrorist group Boko Haram. These include the very recent killing of a large number of civilians, estimated by Amnesty International to be as high as 2,000, in an attack by militants in the north-eastern state of Borno. I am utterly appalled by reports of the use of innocent young children to carry primed explosives. I have also previously condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok last April.
Nigeria was the subject of a Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva in October 2013. During that process, Ireland raised a number of issues including the ongoing atrocities being committed by Boko Haram and its total disregard for the human rights of the people affected.
The EU remains committed to providing a comprehensive range of political, development and humanitarian supports to Nigeria and its people in tackling the terrorist threat and in ensuring the sound development of the country. At the fifth Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in Abuja on 27th November 2014, both the EU and Nigeria expressed concern that the violence of Boko Haram was becoming deep-rooted and was also affecting the wider region, including through refugee movements across borders. The EU emphasized the importance of a strong and human rights-compliant leadership in the fight against Boko Haram and in maintaining state control over the north-eastern states. The parties noted the enhanced regional cooperation between Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
The Nigerian Government has primary responsibility for addressing the security and human rights situation in their country. The EU, as well as several individual EU Member States, and also the UN and the USA, continue to assist the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their ability to provide security and to combat terrorism. Our Embassy in Abuja is working locally, in co-operation with the EU and other key partners, in support of these efforts.
