Written answers

Thursday, 28 March 2013

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights Issues

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied regarding the extent to which the EU and the wider global community including the UN have positively addressed the issues in the Great Lakes region of Africa with particular reference to addressing the salient issues such as human rights abuses, war, starvation and administrative weaknesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15929/13]

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I share the widespread concerns about the situation in the Great Lakes region and particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The country has been ravaged by a long series of violent conflicts and millions of innocent civilians have been killed, injured or displaced from their homes. There have been systematic abuses of human rights, extremely high levels of sexual violence and rape, and widespread recruitment and use of child soldiers.

European Union Foreign Ministers regularly discuss developments in the DRC and are working actively to support efforts to bring peace and stability to the country.

Countries in the region are eager to prevent the fighting from escalating further and recently joined together under the auspices of the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the Southern Africa Development Community to sign a Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement. The agreement calls on the authorities of the DRC to reform their security forces in order to re-establish the State’s authority in the east of the country, as well as to carry out basic institutional reforms. The countries of the region, for their part, pledge to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbours. The adoption of the Agreement was welcomed on behalf of the EU in a joint statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Mary Robinson to oversee implementation of the peace deal. I have warmly welcomed this development. She is expected to travel to the region in the coming weeks to meet the leaders who signed the agreement and work closely with them to ensure that the agreements are implemented. I believe her efforts will be assisted by the surrender of indicted warlord, Bosco Ntaganda to the International Criminal Court where he faces 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ireland continues to provide ongoing support in response to the serious humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Last year Irish Aid provided over €10 million in assistance to those worst affected in the crisis.

Earlier this month a further €3.8 million in humanitarian funding was announced by the Government. Of this funding, €2 million has been provided to the Common Humanitarian Fund for the DRC. This provides quick and flexible funding to UN humanitarian agencies and to NGOs on the ground and aims to assist nearly four million vulnerable people in the DRC. The remaining €1.8 million is being provided to Irish Aid partners, Christian Aid (€450,000), Concern (€450,000), Trócaire (€300,000) and Oxfam (€580,000).

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.