Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

113. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the security situation of persons (details supplied); his views on these cases and the use of criminal charges to obstruct the work of human rights defenders; and if he will raise the issue with his Honduran counterpart. [42019/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers, as well as of the difficult situation which currently pertains for human rights defenders in Honduras more generally. While Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in Honduras, officials at my Department raise issues relating to human rights in Honduras both at EU and UN level, including through direct contact with the EU Delegation in Tegucigalpa.

Honduras was last reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review mechanism in May 2015. Ireland intervened on that occasion to express its concern at the climate of violence and insecurity in which human rights defenders operate in Honduras, and asked that adequate financial and human resources be allocated by the Honduran authorities to ensure the implementation of legislation protecting human rights defenders and journalists.

I support the call made by the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour, following a visit to Honduras in July of this year, for increased protection for human rights defenders in Honduras.

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