Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made to ban female genital mutilation at both EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13922/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It also infringes on children's rights to special protection. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. In Africa alone, it is estimated that three million girls are at risk annually.

Ireland is playing an active role in policy development, funding and research to address this appalling practice. It is a form of gender-based violence, and is one element in our comprehensive approach to ending such violence through the overseas aid programme. Through Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Government is cooperating with United Nations agencies in a concerted effort to end the practice of female genital mutilation. We are working closely with the new Agency, UN Women, which is prioritising the prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The Government is providing €1.2 million to support the work of the Agency in 2011.

We are also supporting the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in their work on child protection, gender equality, reproductive health and maternal mortality. At EU level we are working with partners to ensure that violence against women remains a focus of EU development policy, and of programmes funded by the EU in Africa.

Progress is being made. On 6 February 2011, the International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation, the United Nations reported that there has been success in reducing the incidence of the practice in a number of African countries. The key to this progress has been the ability to engage with communities and persuade them to take the decision to abandon the practice.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the toolkit on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights produced by the EU and the UK and distributed to diplomats in their respective overseas missions; if he will consider a similar initiative for his own Department and the training Irish diplomats serving overseas currently have for advocating for the rights of lesbian and gay persons in hostile countries. [13732/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In June 2010, the European Union Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) adopted a 'Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People'. Ireland fully participated in the elaboration of this comprehensive toolkit which guides the work of all European Union (EU) diplomats, including Irish, in overseas missions. Ireland is a member of COHOM's LGBT Task Force which continues to work on LGBT issues. On 22 March 2011 at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, Ireland actively supported a Joint Statement on behalf of 85 countries from every continent entitled 'Ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity'.

Ireland was one of fifteen EU Member States that were part of a cross regional core group that worked to prepare the statement in Geneva. The Joint Statement demonstrates the increasing commitment across the international community to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The Joint Statement builds on a December 2008 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, which was supported by 68 countries including Ireland and all EU Member States.

I am aware of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office's programme for promoting the human rights of LGBT people which is a useful instrument setting out British activities in this area. At this point, given the existence of the comprehensive EU toolkit and our own record in advocating for LGBT rights at the UN Human Rights Council, not to mention resource constraints, I do not propose to elaborate separate Irish guidelines. As part of Ireland's commitment to support the work of human rights defenders, in 2010 the Human Rights Unit in this Department developed Guidelines for Irish Embassies and Missions on Human Rights Defenders, which were distributed to all Irish Embassies and Missions. These Guidelines reference the EU Toolkit as well as drawing attention to the risks facing human rights defenders working on sensitive issues, including LGBT matters.

A one day seminar on human rights issues was provided within the last two weeks for diplomats about to be posted abroad where attention was drawn to both the EU toolkit and the Guidelines for Irish Embassies and Missions on Human Rights Defenders.