Written answers

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs

Official Engagements

5:00 am

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparations being made by him for the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2875/11]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The sixteenth regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place from 28 February to 25 March 2011. As the Deputy may be aware, the annual High Level Segment takes place during the March session of the Council each year. This year it will take place from 28 February to 2 March. Officials from my Department have been working closely with European Union colleagues to prepare for this Council session. There are a number of points of interest arising at this session of the Council. The Council will consider a number of country-specific matters, including the renewal of the HRC mandates on Burma/Myanmar and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. There will be several reports and resolutions on issues relating to the Middle East, including follow-up resolutions on the reports on the flotilla fact finding mission and on the Goldstone follow up report.

In line with traditional cooperation on initiatives on the rights of the child, the EU plans to jointly propose a resolution on this topic with the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries. This cooperation includes preparing for a full-day discussion on the resolution which this year will focus on the rights of children living and/or working on the street.

Ireland, as always, will play an active role at the Council in close cooperation with EU and other colleagues. In particular, Ireland will participate in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, given our commitment to supporting human rights defenders and the work of the Special Rapporteur.

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