Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of Ireland and the EU in combating the systematic displacement of indigenous peoples in Colombia; and if he will report on any actions taken to compel the Colombian authorities and other relevant actors to uphold the constitutional rights of these indigenous people. [15748/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government is aware of the particular human rights issues affecting the indigenous peoples in Colombia. The most recent statement of Irish and European Union policy in this regard is set out in the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 13 December 2004 which stressed the importance of protecting the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, as reaffirmed in the Declaration of Guadalajara. In the Declaration of Guadalajara, which was adopted during the Irish Presidency of the EU in 2004, the countries of the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean reiterated their commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights and expressed their full commitment to promote the active involvement of minorities and indigenous peoples in the public policies and programmes that concern them.

An official from my Department took part in the second meeting on international support for Colombia which took place in Cartagena de Indias on 3-4 February 2005. This meeting issued the Cartagena Declaration which, inter alia, encouraged the Colombian Government to continue with the improvement of the severe conditions experienced by vulnerable populations, especially the displaced, indigenous and afro-Colombian communities.

At the recent 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Ireland supported two resolutions on human rights and indigenous issues. Ireland also worked actively for the inclusion of strong language on the situation of indigenous groups in Colombia in the chair's Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Colombia adopted by the commission. The final statement deplored the continuing violence against indigenous groups and violations of their economic, social and cultural rights. Furthermore, the statement encouraged the Colombian Government to take special and urgent measures to avoid the forced displacement of indigenous communities. It also appealed to the illegal armed groups to respect the identity and integrity of the indigenous communities. In addition, in the statement of the European Union on the situation of human rights in Colombia delivered at the Commission on Human Rights on 22 April 2005, the EU called on the Colombian Government to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of the human rights of vulnerable parts of the population such as the indigenous community.