Foreign Affairs Committee to consider human rights breaches in North Africa and the Middle East

13 May 2014

Executive Director Colm O’Gorman and Campaigns Officer Aisling Feely will address the Committee.

Vice-Chairman of the Committee Bernard Durkan TD says: “Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity hear from Amnesty International Ireland on their work in   ensuring accountability for human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. The popular uprisings that swept across the region from late 2010 continue to have a significant impact on the human rights situation there.

“In Syria, Amnesty International has highlighted the war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been carried out against Palestinian and Syrian civilians by government forces in Yarmouk, on the outskirts of Damascus. The organisation has also been at the vanguard of international condemnation of the handing out of 683 death sentences in Egypt last April. We look forward to engaging with Mr O’Gorman and Ms Feely on the serious human rights breaches across the region and what they see as most appropriate responses from the international community.”

The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 14 May at 2:30 pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000. It can be viewed online here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Gerald Nash, Labour
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent

Senators:
Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil