Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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653. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that 30 civilians have been assassinated in Colombia over a 30-day period from 21 February to 18 March 2016; that the Justice for Colombia Group compiled the information; and if he will raise these cases with the Colombian Government. [7166/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the deaths to which the Deputy refers. These incidents are stark reminders that Colombia still faces significant challenges in overcoming decades of violence in order to secure a lasting peace.

Ireland condemns unreservedly the killings of all human rights defenders and other civilian activists. We regularly discuss human rights issues in Colombia as part of our bilateral dialogue and in various multilateral fora. At the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 23 March, Ireland expressed strong support for the renewal of the mandate of the Colombia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights beyond 31 October 2016.

Human rights must be central to the imminent peace agreement in Colombia. This is something we have consistently advocated and will continue to advocate. Since 2014, Ireland has provided a total of €410,000 of funding to the OHCHR in the areas of human rights, transitional justice and supporting the implementation of Colombia’s peace process.

With respect to the specific cases referred to by the Deputy, officials from our Embassy in Mexico raised the case of Mr. William Castillo Chima, and threats against his colleagues and other human rights defenders in recent months, during a meeting in Bogotá with the human rights division of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EU Special Envoy to the Colombia Peace Process, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, raised the matter in a meeting last month with the Colombian Interior Ministry, who confirmed that they are in discussions with the Prosecutor’s office to ensure a speedy and thorough investigation.

I believe that our policy of regular engagement, dialogue, and scrutiny within the structured framework of the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue is the best way to promote human rights in Colombia.

Ireland will continue to support efforts towards a lasting peace agreement in Colombia, with assurances of human rights protections at its core.