Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his colleagues at EU and UN level can highlight the bravery of Ms Malala Yousufzai and her efforts to achieve education for women and girls in Pakistan and other regions worldwide; if the international community can use the attack on her life and her on-going recovery as a means of bringing positive attention to the issues that she highlighted in a coordinated international effort to ensure that her bravery does not go unnoticed and her sacrifices were not in vain; if he will be in a position to pursue these issues during the course of Ireland’s presidency with the help of his EU and UN colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1934/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Ankara and the Pakistani Embassy in Dublin. Following the attack on Malala Yousufzai in October last year, I asked our Embassy to maintain direct contact with representatives of the EU and its Member States in Islamabad. The Deputy will be aware that following this incident last October, there was widespread condemnation of the attack at both EU and UN level. The High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, and the Secretary General of the United National Ban Ki Moon issued statements condemning this attack – condemnations which I shared at the time, and continue to share. Like many others, I admire Malala Yousufzai’s courageous efforts to promote the fundamental right to education and her efforts to achieve education for women and girls in Pakistan and other regions worldwide.

At the UN level, Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and opinion. In addition, as an elected member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the period 2013-2015, Ireland is fully engaged at the UN to ensure that these rights are protected. Pakistan was also recently elected to the HRC for the period 2013-2015, so we will have the opportunity of working closely with them on a range of human rights issues.

In addition, during Pakistan’s most recent UN Universal Periodic Review in October 2012, Ireland urged the Government of Pakistan to give consideration to adopting measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions, and recommended that the government of Pakistan invite the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders to conduct an independent visit to Pakistan.

During Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, I will continue to work with my European and international colleagues through all the available mechanisms.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. In particular, the EU adopted a 5 year engagement plan with Pakistan in 2012.

The five year engagement plan aims to build a strategic EU-Pakistan relationship by forging a partnership for peace and development rooted in shared values, principles and commitments.

A Strategic EU relationship with Pakistan is of vital interest to Europe as well as Pakistan. The start of the Strategic Dialogue and the visit by High Representative Ashton in June 2012 demonstrated the importance that the EU attaches to Pakistan and its role in the region.

Since then, Ireland has remained engaged and is working with partners to implement this plan which makes clear that the Government of Pakistan under its constitutional and international obligations, has a responsibility to protect its citizens.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community can assist through the medium of the EU and the UN to improve women’s rights in Pakistan; if specific objectives have been set out or will be set out in this regard; the extent, if any, to which he sees a role for the smaller countries in the EU and elsewhere being expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1935/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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While Ireland’s bilateral diplomatic relations with Pakistan are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Ankara and through the Pakistani Embassy in Dublin, we continue to work through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that human rights are respected in Pakistan and elsewhere. In particular, the EU adopted a 5 year engagement plan with Pakistan in 2012 which we will continue to work with partners to implement during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. Furthermore, the protection of the rights of women, and protection against gender-based violence is a priority outcome in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy.

The five year engagement plan aims to build a strategic EU-Pakistan relationship by forging a partnership for peace and development rooted in shared values, principles and commitments. A Strategic EU relationship with Pakistan is of vital interest to Europe as well as Pakistan. The start of the Strategic Dialogue and the visit by High Representative Ashton in June 2012 demonstrated the importance that the EU attaches to Pakistan and its role in the region.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. Further, the EU has made clear to the Government of Pakistan that under its constitutional and international requirements it has a responsibility to protect its citizens.

At the UN level, the Deputy will be aware that Ireland was elected to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the period 2013-2015 in late 2012. During our term at the HRC Ireland will work with partners on a range of issues, including Pakistan which has also been elected to the HRC for the term 2013-2015.

In addition, during Pakistan’s most recent UN Universal Periodic Review in October 2012, Ireland urged the Government of Pakistan to give consideration to adopting measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions, and recommended that the government of Pakistan invite the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders to conduct an independent visit to Pakistan.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which, at EU and UN level, he and his colleagues are in a position to focus attention on the rape and sexual assaults on women and girls worldwide regardless of nationality or culture with particular reference to the most recent incidents in India; if international pressure can be brought on all countries with a view to stamping out such attacks and the culture surrounding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1936/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland which is a member of the Human Rights Council as of this month is, and has always been, fully committed to ensure that sexual assaults against women are condemned and eliminated. The same holds true for all the Member States of the European Union. The EU has made protection of the rights of women and protection against gender-based violence a key feature of the EU's Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. The EU has also sought to clear the way for greater cooperation between the EU and the UN on this agenda. Rape and sexual assault cannot be tolerated, regardless of the gender, status or circumstance of the victim, or whether the assault occurred in Ireland or abroad. I condemn unreservedly the recent attacks which have taken place in India and I am aware that there have been reported widespread expressions of outrage there too. I note that the Indian prosecutorial system has brought a number of men before the courts to be charged and tried in relation to these two recent, specific incidents which have been reported worldwide in the media.

The next meeting of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place this month and the issue of women’s rights will be discussed. I have asked the officials in our Embassy in New Delhi to participate fully in the preparatory discussions for this Dialogue.