Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the human rights abuses by the Malian military as reported by human rights organisations. [21287/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government is very concerned about the human rights situation in Mali and has highlighted the matter on a number of occasions at EU level and with our partners in the international community. The EU Foreign Affairs Council has repeatedly called on all parties in Mali to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law standards. This message is reinforced when meeting with members of the Malian Government in international fora, including at the Donor Conference on Mali which is taking place in Brussels today. The Council has also emphasised the importance of progress on the political track and the implementation of the transition roadmap which has been agreed by the Malian Government and Parliament. Especially important will be the holding of free and fair elections in the coming months and implementation of a meaningful national dialogue and reconciliation process. EU Foreign Ministers have also welcomed the announcement by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of the opening of an investigation into the situation in Mali. Ireland engages actively in discussions on Mali at the United Nations. In this context, we have welcomed the report in February by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which outlined evidence of serious human rights violations by both the Malian military and by militant groups in the north of the country. The report also highlighted issues which must be addressed in the response to the current crisis in Mali if lasting peace and stability is to be achieved, including, notably, the serious underlying and long-neglected ethnic tensions in the country.

At the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in March 2013, the Council adopted by consensus a resolution on assistance to the Republic of Mali in the field of human rights. The resolution was cosponsored by Ireland. It established a mandate for an independent expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, with a view to assisting the Government of Mali in its efforts to promote and protect human rights, and to act upon the recommendations set forth in resolutions of the Human Rights Council. The Council repeated its call for an immediate halt to all human rights violations and acts of violence and for strict respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It also called upon all forces and armed groups present within the territory to ensure that international human rights law and international humanitarian law are strictly respected. On 22 January 2013, Mali was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council. During this review, Ireland recommended that Mali adopt and implement measures to ensure that international human rights standards are observed by the Malian Armed Forces, in particular the absolute ban on torture and ill-treatment and to ensure that all reports of torture and other ill-treatment are investigated effectively with those responsible being brought to justice. Ireland also recommended that Mali take all feasible measures to protect children from recruitment by state-allied and non-state armed groups, including contributing information, analysis and recommendations to the UN and other stakeholders to support and strengthen their efforts to ensure that international standards are upheld.

Recognising the need for human rights training for the Malian army, Ireland is contributing six trainers and two HQ personnel to the EU Training Mission which is working to support strengthening and reform of the Malian army. Ireland is also committed to supporting international and domestic efforts in the area of electoral preparations and human rights monitoring, working in partnership with other donors and civil society.