Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
94. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the violation of human rights in Xinjiang; the steps he and his EU colleagues will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28489/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17 September the Chinese Government released a white paper confirming that more than 1 million Uighurs have been detained in so-called re-education camps in the region of Xinjiang. These camps are designed to stop Uighurs and strip them of their culture, language and religion. What action is the Minister taking to raise these human rights abuses with the Chinese Government?
I thank the Deputy for this question. Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the credible reports regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, including restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and forced sterilisations and birth control.
Ireland has been vocal about raising this issue, along with other partners in the international community. In our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September, we reiterated our deep concern regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, and urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
At EU level, the deterioration of the human rights situation, including the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang, was raised by EU leaders with China on 14 September, and it was agreed to discuss these issues further at an EU-China human rights dialogue later this year.
Prior to this, Ireland was also one of 27 states to join a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 30 June 2020, which also called on the High Commissioner to provide regular information about the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.
Today, Ireland is supporting a joint statement at the UN Third Committee, which reiterates our grave concern regarding the situation in Xinjiang and recalls the exceptional letter of concern issued by 50 UN special procedures mandate holders which called on China to respect human rights and to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers.
Ireland previously joined a joint statement at the UN Third Committee last year and a joint letter at the UN Human Rights Council in July 2019, which called for the Chinese Government to urgently implement eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, and to uphold its international obligations and respect human rights in Xinjiang.
The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, to engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora as appropriate.
I thank the Minister for his response. Uighurs have had to shave their beards and uncover their hair as part of the restrictions that have been put on them. They have been made to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party. Children have been taken from their parents and put in orphanages and there has been family separation. As such, will the Government support the introduction of a European Magnitsky Act in the European Council that would impose visa bans and asset freezes on individuals worldwide who are guilty of crimes such as torture and genocide? Will Ireland, as an EU member state, vote to adopt sanctions against those responsible for the repressive policies in the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, which are being imposed on the Uighur ethnic minority?
From my experience, the most effective way to achieve things with China is through dialogue and through building relationships. We will of course be part of the debate and assessment on how the EU should respond to this issue. There is no proposal at the moment for sanctions. There are separate sanctions like arms embargoes and so on that Ireland certainly applies. We are in the middle of this discussion and debate at EU and UN levels. The statement made in the UN today was made by Germany on behalf of quite a number of countries, Ireland included, which signed up to it. We have a very good relationship with China on many levels. It is a huge country and an incredibly complex one. It is important we speak out when we have real concerns, as we have on this particular issue, but it is about the relationship and being able to speak very directly and truthfully about our concerns in order to build pressure to get change. That is how we should approach this. However, the EU collectively needs to make decisions to build further pressure in order to get a more satisfactory response on this issue.
There are Irish citizens of Uighur ethnicity who are directly impacted by the Chinese Government's policies in Xinjiang. I am aware of one case where an Irish Uighur citizen lost contact with their Xinjiang-based mother since early 2017. The Irish citizen is worried about their mother's well-being and whether she is being arbitrarily detained in one of the camps in Xinjiang. Will the Department support this Irish Uighur citizen by inquiring about the current situation and well-being of their mother? This has happened in other jurisdictions and has proven very helpful so I ask that the Minister look at that.
I would be more than happy to do that. If the Deputy can give me the details, I will ensure we pursue it.
I thank the Minister.
