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

158. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his colleagues at European Union and United Nations level are aware of the systematic persecution, abduction and killing of innocent women, girls and Christians by Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Al-Shabaab and associated groups; if a particular initiative can be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12381/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram in Nigeria and the wider region, which have resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of an estimated 2.2 million people, have been discussed and condemned at numerous EU and UN fora. These brutal activities continue to represent a serious threat to the peace and security of the region, and involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls.

Together with our EU partners Ireland has continued to reiterate the need for a regional approach to this challenge. At the Security Summit in Abuja on 14 May, High Representative Mogherini announced, with the African Union Commission, €50 million to further the operationalisation of the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF), to which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad are contributing a total of 8,700 troops. The EU has also responded to the humanitarian consequences of Boko Haram activities, providing €21 million in humanitarian funding in June 2015 to the four main countries concerned. The EU Trust Fund will also support projects in the region while Ireland last year provided €500,000 in humanitarian support for Nigeria through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Boko Haram has also been discussed regularly at the UN with the Security Council issuing a further condemnation earlier this month. The Council commended territorial advances made by the MNJTF and called on it to enhance regional military cooperation and coordination.

In the last number of months the Government of Nigeria has made substantial progress in combatting Boko Haram, progress that has been verified by a number of independent sources. The security situation has improved in many parts of the North East allowing much needed humanitarian assistance to reach isolated communities for the first time.

The Government fully supports the removal of the threat to international peace and security posed by Daesh, consistent with international law. Ireland supports a coordinated regional response and political solution to the crisis in Syria. Our approach is fully in line with relevant UN Resolutions.

UNSCR 2249 grants authority for States to take all necessary measure to suppress and eradicate terrorist acts by Daesh in territory under its control within Syria and Iraq and to eradicate the safe haven they have established inside Syria and Iraq. Any action undertaken under this resolution must be in compliance with international law, in particular the UN Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee, and humanitarian law.

At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2015, Ireland made a number of statements in which we condemned Daesh's barbarous treatment of civilians, its campaign of violence against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq, and its treatment of women and girls.

Daesh has also regularly featured in discussions at EU level, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 May at which detailed conclusions on the Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Daesh threat were adopted.

The conflict in Syria has had immense humanitarian consequences and Ireland is playing its part in alleviating the suffering of those affected. This year Ireland will provide a total of €20 million in humanitarian support for the Syrian people, bringing the total Irish contribution for the Syrian crisis since 2012 to €62 million.

Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat in Somalia, with frequent attacks against peacekeepers, security forces and civilians, with the latter often specifically targeting Christians. It is also responsible for perpetrating sexual attacks on women and girls, particularly those that are internally displaced.

The EU provides funding to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, AMISOM; and supports the Somali National Army through the EU Military Training Mission. The EU is also supporting programmes that aim to address the root causes of violent extremism through the EU Trust Fund for Africa.

Members of the UN Security Council visited Somalia in May 2016. The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) supports peace and reconciliation and the state formation process in Somalia. A number of UN agencies also respond to the humanitarian challenges created by the actions of Al Shabaab and other militant groups in the region, and Irish humanitarian funding to Somalia last year totalled over €5.5 million.

More generally on human rights, Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. Ireland and the EU consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

In my address to the UN General Assembly last October I highlighted the alarming rise in attacks on Christians. More recently, Ireland delivered statements addressing the importance of freedom of religion or belief during the thirty-first session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2016. We will continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians at the United Nations and as part of EU efforts to support and promote freedom of religion or belief.