Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Colm O'Gorman and Ms Iverna McGowan. I wish to follow up Deputy Crowe's point on the Palestinian refugee camps. Recently I and several colleagues visited Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. I must say we found the conditions appalling. We did not expect it to be wonderful, but we were shocked by what we saw. People received only one meal a day and between 12 and 16 people were sleeping on the ground in one room in sub-zero temperatures, which reach -5°C in some instances. What really appalled us was that these camps have existed since 1948. One of my colleagues made the point that we have a plethora of international organisations, NGOs and states dealing with human rights. The agenda is broadening all the time. Have we lost focus? Here is a fundamental breach of human rights, which has existed since 1948, which has not advanced one iota in the interim.

I agree fully with my colleague, Senator Norris, on the persecution of gay and lesbian people in certain parts of the world, particularly in the areas mentioned in Africa. This is to be decried and the Chairman's initiative is good. Under the EU action plan, as big an issue which probably involves even greater numbers, is freedom of religion and belief. Tremendous persecution of Christians in particular, but also of other denominations, takes place in various parts of the world. In the Middle East and parts of Africa, Christians are persecuted. We see what has happened in Nigeria and the number of Christians killed in Boko Haram when they went to church and were bombed. I read about freedom of religion in many reports but I hear very little advocacy from NGOs or governments with regard to condemnation and seeking specific actions to be taken in this regard.

I commend the comments made on the arms trade treaty and I hope at the end of March to attend the UN debate on it. What is Amnesty International actively doing, particularly in countries which oppose it, such as the US, to ensure it is adopted and put into effect? Many of the human rights breaches we see in various parts of the world are as a consequence of some of the major international states selling arms to both sides in conflict areas, which impacts on civilian communities in a disastrous way.

Freedom of expression online and offline is an important issue and needs to be promoted. I do not use social media, but people bring to my attention certain aspects of it. There is much abuse and personalised commentary, some of it defamatory. We have seen only one case being taken. Some of the comment is general but some is very specific and personalised. This needs to be addressed and tackled. The abuse of any freedom becomes an impediment to that freedom being universally recognised. Unless it is tackled, we will provide excuses for people and countries not to embrace the medium as part of our democratic structures.

Amnesty International is very familiar with the case of Sergei Magnitsky and I know it has taken a position on it. Should we use the opportunity of our EU Presidency to create greater awareness of this case throughout the EU? Tremendous human rights breaches occur in Russia and if this case could in some way be used effectively and constructively, it could be a catalyst to prevent such cases in the future.

I presume Amnesty International subscribes fully to the enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. I was recently contacted by a lady in England whose first child suffers from Down's syndrome. As a result of the situation in Britain she finds it almost impossible to get the resources and access the support systems which are essential for the child's development. The reason for this is that identification of Down's syndrome leads to abortion in 90% of cases. What is Amnesty International's position on this? Does it regard this as a breach of human rights?