Written answers

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights Issues

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, together with his colleagues in the international community continues to focus on the top ten worldwide identified locations/countries affected by lack of democratic structures, failure to recognise human rights principles, detention without trial, genocide and/or ethnic cleansing; the degree to which the international community has managed to engage with authorities as such locations throughout the community [25671/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Neither Ireland nor, as far as I am aware, the European Union or the United Nations maintains a "top ten" list of countries in regard to the violations highlighted by the Deputy. In our foreign policy, which is expressed in direct contact with other countries or multilaterally through the EU, the UN, and other international bodies such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (chaired this year by Ireland), we are working to alleviate incidences of war, terror, human rights or other abuses, and to enhance international peace and security.

Together with its EU partners, Ireland monitors closely the situation in many countries, including post-conflict countries, throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including official channels, National Human Rights Institutions and non-governmental/civil society organisations. We make known our concerns about particular violations of human rights to the Governments in question.

The EU has adopted Common Positions on certain countries, which attach priority to promoting human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. In addition, the EU conducts regular dialogues with a number of countries and raises human rights concerns as part of political dialogue meetings.

Ireland endorses the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses. This includes supporting the role of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures and Mandate Holders and the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. To complement this, the UN Human Rights Council has established a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which assesses the human rights record of all UN Member States. At the UN, the EU makes statements on the human rights situations in countries around the world. Ireland is fully associated with these statements.

Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

Ireland promotes full observance of universal human rights standards. Our active participation in multilateral organisations such as the EU and the UN provides us with an opportunity to voice our concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for violation of human rights. Ireland will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering the protection of human rights. We will also, through our official aid programme, continue to promote human rights and good governance in places of greatest need.

Question No. 201 answered with Question No. 105.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community has been able to intervene in Syria in order to protect human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25673/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have on a number of occasions stated clearly my grave concerns at the appalling situation in Syria. I have repeatedly condemned the unacceptable human rights violations and repression which are now estimated to have claimed well over 10,000 lives since the conflict first erupted in March 2011. While there was some brief improvement in the situation following the coming into effect of the April 12 ceasefire, this regrettably has not been sustained and recent days have unfortunately seen a resurgence in the number of attacks, shelling of towns and deadly bombings, resulting in further heavy loss of lives among combatants and civilians. There is no doubting the widespread international revulsion generated by the conflict over the last 14 months and in particular by the violence and killings associated with the repressive actions of the Syrian regime. The international community has been prompt to express its indignation and to compel the Syrian regime to change course, notably through the adoption by a overwhelming majority of a UN General Assembly Resolution on 16 February which condemned human rights violations in Syria and a UN Human Rights Council Resolution, adopted on 23 March, on the human rights situation in Syria.

The UN Human Rights Council has also initiated a process of inquiry through the establishment last August of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry. Mandated to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law in Syria since the beginning of the conflict, and, where possible, to identify those responsible, the Commission, in its 23 February 2012 report, found that there has been a systemic impunity for human rights violations in Syria since March 2011. It also reported that Syrian state forces are suspected of having committed widespread, systematic and gross human rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity, with the knowledge and consent of President Assad and senior members of his regime. The Commission is expected to publish a further report in the course of next month which may well pave the way for possible consideration by the UN Security Council of referral to the International Criminal Court for those suspected of involvement in serious human rights violations.

The European Union has, of course, also reacted to the violence in Syria. It has adopted a series of robust economic, political and diplomatic measures to compel the Syrian regime to cease its reprehensible attacks against the Syrian people. While actively supporting the efforts of the UN/Arab League Joint Envoy Kofi Annan to negotiate a ceasefire and mediate a peaceful settlement, the EU has also imposed several rounds of tough sanctions targeted on the Assad regime and those who support the repression. Last week's Foreign Affairs Council which I attended, reiterated the EU's readiness to impose further sanctions and to step up the pressure on the Syrian regime as long as the violence and human rights abuses continue.

In saying all this, we must also be realistic about what the international community can accomplish in relation to the current situation in Syria. The absolute imperative must be to try to prevent Syria from slipping further into open civil war. It is crucial that both the Syrian authorities and the opposition forces abide by the ceasefire they committed to observe under Special Envoy Annan's six-point plan. In this regard, we must continue supporting the work of the Supervision Mission (UNSMIS), established by UN Security Council Resolution 2043, and of its observers who are gradually being deployed throughout the country and who are carrying out their duties in very difficult conditions.

Ultimately, the complete cessation of violence and implementation of the Annan Plan in full offer the best opportunity for ending the conflict and ongoing human rights violations and setting in train a process of urgently needed political reform and transition in Syria. Ireland and its EU partners will continue to work steadfastly in support of this aim.

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