Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the killing of a person (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to increasing levels of intimidation and violence human rights defenders face in Guatemala and the impunity that surrounds these crimes; and if he will raise the person's case and Ireland’s concerns for the security of all environmental and human rights defenders in Guatemala with his Guatemalan counterpart. [38081/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the difficult situation currently facing human rights defenders in Guatemala, and I condemn unreservedly any intimidation or violence perpetrated against human rights defenders in Guatemala and elsewhere.

My attention has been brought to the specific case to which the Deputy refers, regarding the tragic killing of Mr. Jeremy Abraham Barrios Lima. Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in Guatemala, but my officials have raised this incident with the European External Action Service. The EU delegation in Guatemala has already contacted the Director of the Centre for Environmental and Social Legal Action of Guatemala (CALAS), to express its sincere condolences and obtain more information on the case. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Only last week, officials from my Department met with Mr. Rafael Maldonado, a colleague of the late Mr. Barrios Lima, as well as members of Trócaire, in order to more deeply understand the difficulties faced by CALAS workers and other human rights defenders on the ground. Officials from my Department are in regular contact with organisations which are active in the Central American region, such as CALAS, and we greatly value and appreciate such engagement.

In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we will continue to raise our concerns regarding threats against human rights defenders in discussions on Guatemala at EU and international level.