Written answers

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights Cases

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the issue of the reports of ill-treatment of eight female activists detained in a prison in Saudi Arabia with his counterparts across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4137/19]

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will establish a cross-party group to visit the detainees in a prison in Saudi Arabia in view of reports of ill-treatment and torture of eight female activists detained at the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4136/19]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 86 together.

Promoting respect for human rights is a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland has consistently supported the human rights of prisoners and detainees, and continually advocates for the freedom of civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment. 

Overall, through our engagement at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, Ireland works tirelessly to promote gender equality, to combat all forms of discrimination against women and prevent gender-based violence.   

Ireland has also co-sponsored resolutions at the Human Rights Council calling upon states to investigate alleged human rights violations and abuses suffered by persons deprived of their liberty, in particular cases involving death, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Ireland has also co-sponsored resolutions concerning human rights in the administration of justice, and resolutions concerning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments.   

It is completely unacceptable that women should be imprisoned, let alone mistreated in any way, for peacefully seeking their basic rights. In December, the UN Committee against Torture cited serious allegations that a number of activists have been detained without charge in Dhahban prison since May 2018 and that they had suffered torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment during interrogation. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have alleged shocking abuses subjected on these activists, which the Saudi government has vehemently denied.  

The Irish Embassy in Riyadh regularly works with other EU Member States to ensure that human rights issues in Saudi Arabia are addressed, and the EU Delegation has raised the cases in question directly with the Saudi authorities on multiple occasions and at various levels. The EU Head of Delegation in Riyadh raised these reports last week.  

On a national basis, Ireland consistently raises issues of human rights in Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Embassy in Dublin, and at international level. I understand that many members of the Oireachtas share my deep concerns, and that their status as parliamentarians will give them their own contacts and channels for highlighting these.    

During the last Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record at the Human Rights Council, in November 2018, Ireland registered its concern about the imprisonment of Human Rights Defenders and recommended that Saudi Arabia bring its laws into line with international standards for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

My Department will continue to monitor the cases in question, and continue to relay our concerns to the Saudi government, at bilateral, EU and international levels.

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