Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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338. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the threats of violence against ASTRACATOL, Farmers Union, in Columbia by state-sponsored groups; and if he agrees that while the international community is praising the peace process between the government and FARC there also needs to be more scrutiny of human rights violations in the country, particularly against farmers and trade unions. [19237/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The agreement on a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrilla organisation is an important step in bringing to an end more than half a century of conflict in which more than 220,000 people have been killed and 6.4 million people displaced.

I congratulate all of the parties to the agreement for their courage in pursuing peace, in particular the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. I also commend former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, for his ongoing work as the European Union’s Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process. Mr. Gilmore was the EU’s representative at the signing ceremony in Havana on 26 June 2016.

A central element of the bilateral ceasefire agreement is the commitment by the Government of Colombia to intensify its fight against paramilitarism and organised crime, as well as stepping up its protection of rural communities, social movements such as ASTRACATOL and opposition political movements and parties. In addition, the Colombian government has pledged to establish a National Commission on Security Guarantees and a Special Unit, within the Public Prosecutors Office, for investigation for organised crime and paramilitarism. It has also committed to incorporating, as necessary, FARC ex-combatants into the government’s National Protection Unit for the protection of members of social and political movements. The effective implementation of these measures and of the other provisions of the agreement will be critical to its success.

Ireland attaches the greatest importance to the protection and promotion of human and civil rights in Colombia and globally. For many years Ireland has supported civil society groups and international agencies working to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights in Colombia and officials from our Embassy in Mexico, which is accredited to Colombia, regularly meet human rights groups from that country. In addition I recently sent a group of senior Irish officials to Colombia, who met United Nations and civil society representatives, including from groups involved in the promotion and defence of human rights. Subsequently, officials from my Department met Colombian human rights defenders visiting Ireland with Peace Brigades International. These discussions focused on the legacy of the conflict and the implications of the ongoing peace process.

Ireland has also been a long-time supporter of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Christian Aid and other organisations working in the area of human rights in Colombia. We have provided more than €400,000 in funding for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia since 2014. At the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March of this year, Ireland commended the work of the OHCHR in Colombia and called for the renewal of its mandate beyond 31 October 2016. As emphasised in our national statement, human rights must be central to the peace agreement. This is something we have consistently advocated and will continue to advocate.

Ireland also engages with Colombia on human rights in the EU context, including through the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue. Ireland is an active contributor in this process which addresses the subject directly with the Colombian government at official level. Through this mechanism, the Union engages in a structured manner across the full range of human rights issues, including human rights defenders, trades unionists, prisoners, land restitution and environmental issues.

The promotion and protection of human rights is and will continue to be a central element of our engagement with Colombia - including during the implementation of the peace agreement.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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339. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the report, Taking Sides: The United Nations loss of impartiality, independence and neutrality in Syria, and its findings of how the United Nations' response to the crisis is completely inadequate; and if Syria and other crisis regions such as Palestine indicate that the United Nations has limited influence in war zones. [19238/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I share the deep frustrations expressed by the authors of the Taking Sides report. I have previously expressed my strong concerns that the UN Security Council has failed to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court and the lack of measures adopted to constrain the actions by the parties, especially the Assad regime, in their attacks on civilians.

I also accept that the distribution of humanitarian assistance by the UN has been hampered by the Assad regime, and this has also been repeatedly criticized by Ireland. I repeat these condemnations, and call for an end to all sieges and denials of humanitarian access. I believe that the UN faces an extremely challenging task because of the actions of the parties, especially the Assad regime, whose violations of international humanitarian law is unacceptable and must be held to account.

I do not support the call for ending all humanitarian assistance if such denials of access continue. Large sections of the population in regime held areas of Syria are also in grave need of humanitarian assistance and I do not believe that it would be acceptable to punish innocent civilians in regime held areas for the crimes of the regime.

However, I have also repeatedly made clear my support for the UN in its efforts to work for a political resolution. The fault for the failure of peace in Syria is not the UN’s, but lies with those who have consistently sought to use violence and are seeking to continue the conflict.

The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory remains a challenge for the entire international community – one on which Ireland is actively engaged – is not analogous to the situation in Syria.

The capacity of the UN to act to successfully address conflicts is dependent on the actions and policies of its Member States and the parties to conflicts.