Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue. It is an issue that I would have raised myself as an opposition Deputy. I am grateful that he has raised it today. It gives us a chance to outline exactly what the Government is doing and where we are raising the issue at international forums. Religious persecution is on the rise in many different parts of the world. I welcome this opportunity to outline the important work that Ireland is doing to protect and defend faith-based minorities from attack and to advance religious freedom for all.

The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is regarded as a fundamental freedom, and is set forth in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN Human Rights Committee has confirmed that the right includes the freedom to change religion or belief, or to adopt atheistic views. The promotion of freedom of religion or belief is a priority for Ireland's human rights engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels, as reaffirmed in The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, no matter where in the world it occurs or who the victims may be.

At a multilateral level, the right to freedom of religion or belief features prominently in our engagement at the UN Security Council, in the General Assembly and at the Human Rights Council, as well as through our participation in intergovernmental alliances dedicated to religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities. As recently as 21 March 2021, Ireland participated in a special sitting of the UN Security Council where we raised issues relating to freedom of religion and belief. In particular, Ireland used this opportunity to share our own experience of religious conflict, reflecting on the important role that religious leaders have played in securing peace for Northern Ireland. Ireland condemned the use of religion or belief to create hierarchies of humanity which are artificially constructed to generate categories of belonging and exclusion. This can never be tolerated. Ireland consistently co-sponsors resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and at the Human Rights Council. Ireland is also a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, as well as the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Indeed, my own work on the General Affairs Council deals with antisemitism. Both the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief work to strengthen, advance and promote religious freedom. Within the EU also, Ireland works with partners to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. During our Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013, Ireland played a key role in the development and adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. These guidelines provide a framework for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in the EU's external human rights policy.

I wish to take this opportunity to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack last month on innocent civilians gathering to attend Sunday mass at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria. It was the latest in a string of deadly faith-based attacks to take place in the country over the past decade. The attack resulted in the death of multiple people and left a further 40 wounded. There can be no justification for acts of violence or discrimination of any kind on the basis of religion or belief. Atrocities of this kind remind us that we cannot take religious freedom for granted. Our diplomats and embassy in Abuja continue to work with local civil society on the ground to monitor developments in relation to the investigation of the attack. Ireland takes very seriously its commitment to ensuring the right to freedom of religion or belief, and continues to use all avenues available to highlight our concerns and to actively engage with like-minded partners.

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