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Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Ceisteanna (65)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

65. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he and his EU colleagues are taking to bring to an end the incarceration of a reported 2 million Uighur men in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17190/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am deeply concerned about the situation in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, in particular the treatment of Uighur Muslims and the detention of a significant number of people in re-education camps. 

We take the reports regarding this situation very seriously and have raised our concerns with our Chinese counterparts, in bilateral meetings, through our EU engagement, and in multilateral contexts.

I discussed the subject with China's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Chao, during political consultations held in Dublin last year. Ireland's concerns about the situation in Xinjiang are also raised in our contacts with the Chinese Embassy in Dublin and through our Embassy in Beijing.

Ireland participated in China’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which was held in November 2018.  As well as expressing concern at reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs, in particular their detention in political re-education camps, we urged China to respect freedom of religion and belief and recommended that China grant access to the OHCHR to all regions of the country including Xinjiang.

The EU also continues to raise concerns regarding freedom of religion and belief at bilateral and multilateral levels. The topic was raised during the most recent EU-China Summit held on the 9 April, and was discussed in more detail during the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue on the 1 April. During this dialogue the EU noted that while actions to counter terrorism are essential, such measures must respect the principle of proportionality, fundamental freedoms and international laws. The EU raised the system of political re-education camps and called on China to allow meaningful, unsupervised and unrestricted access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Special Procedures. 

At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in March, the EU raised concerns about the existence of political re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions particularly targeted at Uighurs in Xinjiang, and again urged China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent observers. Ireland fully supports the EU position, and actively contributes to its actions and statements.

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