Written answers

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Policy

Photo of Robert DowdsRobert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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228. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will instruct Ireland's ambassador to Pakistan to raise the concerns of the Irish Government about sexual abuse of boys as reported in a documentary (details supplied); if he will request the Government of Pakistan to take action to end this abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39196/14]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Ankara and I have requested the Embassy in Ankara to contact colleagues from the EU in Islamabad for further information regarding this report. I would further add that we continue to work through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that human rights are respected in Pakistan and elsewhere. The EU adopted a 5 year engagement plan with Pakistan in 2012. This plan aims to build a strategic EU-Pakistan relationship by forging a partnership for peace and development rooted in shared values, principles and commitments. The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, and 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.

At the UN level, 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 is working with partners on a range of issues, including Pakistan, which has also been elected to the HRC for the term 2013-2015. The issue of the sexual exploitation of children arose during the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council in 2012. One of the recommendations arising from the Review was that Pakistan should develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent sexual exploitation of children and their cruel treatment, and that Pakistan should increase criminal liability for these crimes.

Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of the child, which was reaffirmed last month by our ratification of the 3rd Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At the 27th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva last month, Ireland called on all States to ensure that children are protected and are not subjected to violence or abuse.

I was delighted that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded last week to Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India. Both have been exceptional global campaigners for children’s rights and have shown great courage and commitment in working to ensure that no child should be left behind.

I will continue to work with my international colleagues through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that these rights are protected. In addition, officials in my Department and the Embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor and report on the ongoing situation in Pakistan.

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