Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the issue of civilian deaths by the security forces in Colombia at EU and UN level. [12428/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of civilian deaths attributed to the security forces in Colombia is the subject of ongoing action at EU and UN level. Most recently, the February 2008 annual report of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia notes that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia continues to receive reports of extrajudicial killings attributed to the security forces.

In its report, the OHCHR in Colombia notes that the persistence of such extrajudicial killings has prompted the Government to strengthen control mechanisms, with a number of new directives produced in 2007 by the Colombian Ministry of Defence and military authorities. These directives are in line with the recommendations previously laid down by the OHCHR, and are due to be further developed in an integrated strategy on human rights and international humanitarian law which will be issued by the Colombian Ministry of Defence this year. Additionally, the OHCHR welcomes the creation of a dedicated unit within the Colombian Office of the Attorney General for the conduct of investigations into extrajudicial killings.

The OHCHR in Colombia, whose mandate was renewed for a further three year period in 2007, will continue to closely monitor the implementation and results of Government initiatives to put an end to extrajudicial killings throughout 2008. In relation to action at EU level, as the Deputy will be aware, the EU has expressed its support for the Colombian Government's policies aimed at ensuring the rule of law, legality, security of persons and human rights. The EU has also condemned systematic breaches of the most fundamental human rights, including the right to life and to liberty, in Colombia.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union most recently adopted Conclusions on Colombia on 19 November 2007. Ireland was actively involved in the negotiation of these Conclusions, which expressed the EU's total solidarity with the Colombian people, its full support for the Colombian Government in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict and underlined the importance the EU attaches to the ongoing implementation of the Justice and Peace Law.

The Council encouraged the Colombian government's determination to improve the armed forces' respect for human rights and welcomed the progress which has been made in this respect. However, the Council noted with real concern the persisting problem of human rights violations by some members of the security forces, including extra-judicial killings. My Department continues to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country.