Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the former president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25 year sentence for human rights violations, has been pardoned by the current Peruvian President and released from jail after only serving eight years (details supplied); his views on the statement of 28 December 2017 of a group of UN human rights experts; and if he will raise these concerns with his Peruvian counterpart. [1665/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of recent developments in Peru regarding the pardoning of former President Alberto Fujimori, and I note the statement on the matter which was made by a group of United Nations human rights experts on 28 December. While Ireland does not have a resident Embassy in Lima, officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are following the situation in Peru closely, in consultation with EU partners with a presence on the ground.Ireland is committed to supporting and encouraging Peru to fully embed a culture of human rights.

Most recently, on 8 November 2017, Ireland made a statement on Peru at the 28th Session of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which included a series of recommendations urging improvements in the country’s human rights infrastructure. The full text of Ireland’s statement can be viewed on the Department’s website:

Furthermore, in February 2017, procedures formalising a Human Rights Dialogue between the EU and Peru were concluded. This dialogue aims to provide the framework in which a better understanding and exchange of best practices on shared values regarding human rights between EU Member States and Peru can be developed.

Peru has made many strides in its political and social development over the past decade and both the country and society have been transformed since the gradual cessation of armed conflict from 1998 onwards.

However, overcoming the legacy of human rights crimes committed during the conflict is essential to Peru’s future development, and Ireland will continue to urge the Government of Peru to address historical impunity at all levels.