Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Recent reforms in the socio-economic sphere in Saudi Arabia have been overshadowed by reports from the UN and a number of human rights agencies of an intensive crackdown on domestic dissent and a near total restriction of the civil society space. Reports of torture, abuse and dire detention conditions for the prisoners in question are worrying. It is unacceptable that women should be imprisoned, let alone mistreated in any way, for peacefully seeking their basic rights. The Irish embassy in Riyadh works with other EU member states to ensure that human rights issues in Saudi Arabia are addressed. The EU delegation in Riyadh has raised the cases in question directly with the Saudi authorities on multiple occasions and at various levels. Ireland has consistently raised Saudi human rights issues bilaterally with the Saudi embassy in Dublin and at international fora. I am aware of the report issued by a cross-party panel of British Members of Parliament who had requested to visit the prisoners in question and I understand that many Members of the Oireachtas may be deeply concerned about the issue also. The question of the establishment of a cross-party delegation is, however, a matter for the Oireachtas.

Promoting respect for human rights is a cornerstone of Ireland's foreign policy. Ireland has consistently supported the human rights of prisoners and detainees and continually advocates for the freedom of civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment. Through our engagement at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, Ireland works tirelessly to combat all forms of discrimination against women and to safeguard the rights of those deprived of their liberty. During the last universal periodic review of Saudi Arabia's human rights record at the Human Rights Council in November 2018, Ireland registered its concern about the imprisonment of human rights defenders and recommended that Saudi Arabia bring its laws into line with international standards for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. My Department will continue to monitor these distressing cases and will continue to relay Ireland's concerns to the Saudi authorities at bilateral and international fora.

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