Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2021
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the top 20 locations worldwide that are experiencing violations of human rights, lack of protection against starvation and the organised equivalent of ethnic cleansing; if the perpetrators are likely to be charged before the International Criminal Courts of Justice and Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56779/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if serious efforts can be made to ensure that those encouraging the use of human rights abuses against vulnerable persons can be challenged in the international courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56780/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which at European Union and United Nations level he continues to focus on the vulnerability of women and children who continue to fall victims to physical and mental abuse; the steps being taken to address these issues and incarcerate the perpetrators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56786/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he continues to raise at European Union Security Council level the ongoing worldwide abuses of women and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56788/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts that are being made at international level to challenge the activities of international abuses of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56789/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he through the United Nations and the European Union can continue to highlight abuses of human rights at various locations throughout the globe some in warzones and some not in which vulnerable persons continue to be abused, trafficked and murdered; if efforts have been made to bring the perpetrators to justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56790/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 205, 210, 212, 213 and 214 together.
The promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for me as Minister, and for the wider Government. As well as bilaterally through our mission network, Ireland contributes strongly to United Nations and European Union efforts to eliminate human rights violations and abuses. The rights of women and children are central to our engagement, especially in conflict zones where risks of child recruitment or trafficking in persons are particularly prevalent. At the UN Security Council this month alone, Ireland highlighted human rights concerns in discussions on, inter alia, Ethiopia, Syria and Yemen.
Conflict remains the most significant driver of humanitarian crises, while the number and complexity of these crises globally continues to increase. Each conflict is unique in its character, scale and complexity, and as such cannot be ranked by any single set of criteria of severity.
The particular human rights violations and abuses encountered by women and children, including sexual and gender-based violence, crosscuts all of Ireland’s engagement on both conflict and human rights. In addition to co-chairing the UN Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, Ireland is an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. During our Presidency of the Security Council in September, we set a record in respect of the number of women civil society participants that we invited to brief the Council.
Ireland is currently actively engaged in the Third Committee session of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, which is addressing a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues including gender equality and the rights of the child. We have delivered a series of statements, including on trafficking in persons, the rights of persons with disabilities, the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and the situation of human rights defenders; as well as in relation to specific country situations including Myanmar, Belarus and the occupied Palestinian Territories. Ireland co-sponsored a significant number of resolutions, including in relation to the human rights situations in Syria, Iran, DPRK and Myanmar, and joined joint statements in relation to the human rights of LGBTI+ persons and the human rights situation in Xinjiang. We are active at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and, at the most recent session, made national statements on a broad range of issues, including violence against women and children’s rights. Ireland also co-sponsored several resolutions including a resolution on child, early and forced marriage in times of crisis (including the COVID-19 pandemic). In the context of increased authoritarian restrictions globally, Ireland will also join a Joint Statement supporting the right to peaceful protest.
At EU level, Ireland is an active participant and contributor to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which works globally to support the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security. Human Rights issues are frequently discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Most recently, on Monday, 15 November, in a discussion on Ethiopia at the FAC, I repeated my concerns in relation to the human rights situation, urging a strong EU response. Ireland strongly support the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which strengthens the EU’s ability to take collective action against perpetrators of human rights violations.
Finally, it is a priority for Ireland that there is accountability for human rights violations, including for the heinous crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing. A strong international criminal justice system is central to fighting impunity. While states bear the primary responsibility to investigate the most serious international crimes, including war crimes and genocide, Ireland regards the International Criminal Court as the cornerstone of such a system. We are a consistent and strong supporter of the Court.
In respect of peacekeeping, Ireland also has a long tradition of contributing to UN and EU peace-support missions and has more than 550 personnel in United Nations mandated missions overseas.
