Mr. Andrew Anderson:

To respond to Deputy Stanton's question on the issue of democracy in decline, that is broadly true. Broadly, the forces of democracy and human rights are under pressure in more places than ever before. Populist authoritarianism is growing. We are seeing an undermining of democracy and the rule of law in parts of Europe as well as across Africa, Latin America and Asia. It is important to understand it is not all one-way traffic. Many people are engaged in the struggle for human rights and democracy on the ground. There have been positive steps in Zambia and Malawi recently, where elections saw a transfer of power and authoritarian leaders left power.

A couple of years ago, there was the transition in Sudan. There was the worrying news of an attempted coup over recent days and the transition there is still very fragile. Nevertheless, one aspect that links Zambia, Malawi and Sudan is the important role of civil society. It was local people mobilising on the ground to push for free and fair elections in Zambia and Malawi that ensured that happened in a peaceful way. It was local civil society mobilised in Sudan that put pressure for the overthrow of a corrupt dictatorship. Although the current transitional arrangements are not ideal, they at least offer a peaceful path forward. It is important the Security Council and others remain seized of the need to support that transition in Sudan.

There is probably more bad news than good news out there, but we should recognise that nearly everywhere there is progress it is contested space. Where we are seeing progress, it is because of the actions of people working in local communities in a peaceful way through civil society organisations. Whether they call themselves human rights defenders might vary in different contexts but, broadly speaking, supporting local people working peacefully to advance human rights and democracy is, we believe, the way to continue to make a difference. Even in those countries going in the wrong direction, it is being able to continue to support those people who are continuing to work that offers some hope for the future in those countries.

As for journalists, it is true they are often the canaries in the coalmine, the first ones to be silenced in many places, together with other human rights defenders. We have seen that, for example, most recently in Belarus. One of our partner organisations is Reporters without Borders and we continue to work with it and others to try to support journalists at risk. Some of the people we have helped to get out of Afghanistan have been journalists. Mr. Faiz might comment on circumstances in that country and what we can do. I reiterate we have had a big focus in recent weeks, and will do for the next while, on helping people to get out, but we are also providing support to those who are going to remain inside.

One of the very impressive aspects of the actions of human rights defenders throughout the world is that - putting North Korea and Eritrea to one side - there is almost no country where there are not people working to advance human rights and democracy. In China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan, people are continuing to work. One of the challenges in Afghanistan relates to the fact that many people were outspoken and high profile and they are extremely vulnerable at the moment. There will continue to be people who try to work in a more low-key way. There are people trying to keep open some of the refuges that were in operation for women and victims of domestic violence. It will be very difficult to do that and the space to do it has been narrowed greatly, but there will continue to be people who try to work inside the country. One of our objectives, working together with people such as Mr. Faiz who have been able to get out, will be to try to find safe ways to continue to support people who are working inside the country as well as helping those who need to get out to do so.

As for our priorities, given the role of Ireland on the UN Security Council, we think it should reiterate the recommendation to call an Arria formula meeting at the council. It is an opportunity to bring in the voices of human rights defenders from Colombia such as that of Diana, whom we heard so eloquently from earlier. We think that is really important, not only because the issues they are raising in regard to the failure to implement key parts of the peace agreement in the context of the protection of human rights defenders are important but also because it sends a strong message to the Colombian authorities, when those human rights defenders are engaged with, that these people are of real importance to the international community and the Security Council. It sends a message, I hope, that more needs to be done in respect of their protection.

Second, we encourage the committee to recommend that the Irish Government do more to follow up on certain cases. That of Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja in Bahrain is one the Government has raised in the past, but we are keen for Ireland and the EU to do more. Eamon Gilmore, as EU special representative, has taken up his case but it is important to encourage the EU, as well as the UK Government, to push forward on that case as well as those of other human rights defenders such as Fr. Stan Swamey in India.

Our third priority in respect of Afghanistan in the immediate future is the provision of additional visas for human rights defenders at risk. Ireland is a relatively small country in the global scheme of things and we recognise there is not an unlimited supply of such documents, but we have made a specific request to the Department of Foreign Affairs for an additional 50 visas and we think that would make a very important difference in helping some of those who are most at risk. If Ireland could encourage more action at the EU level too, that would be of great value as well.

I will now pass over to my colleagues.