Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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270. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps likely to be taken by the international community in order to address human rights and trafficking abuses of women and children in various conflict zones across the globe; the extent to which Ireland can use its influence on the UN Security Council to highlight the necessity to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34200/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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271. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the role of the UN can be expanded to make a more meaningful impact in various conflict zones across the globe with a view to protecting women and children, the discontinuation of the recruitment of child soldiers and trafficking in women and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34201/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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272. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the international community has identified the most serious incidents of trafficking of women and children globally with a view to positive intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34202/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together.

Ireland is a strong contributor to European Union and United Nations efforts to eliminate human rights violations. This includes our work across the UN system, including at the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and at the UN Human Rights Council. The rights of women and children are central to our engagement and especially so in regards to conflict zones. 

At the UN Security Council the issue of trafficking in persons and the issue of child soldiers are considered in the context of certain country-specific discussions. Ireland actively engages in these discussions in addition to co-chairing the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security. UN Security Council resolution 2331 on Islamic State, recognised the trafficking of women and girls in conflicts as a form of violence against women.

Ireland is also a member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict which addresses the issue of child soldiers and ensures follow up of the recommendations at country level. Additionally, Ireland seeks to mainstream child protection across the work of the Council.

Ireland also engages actively at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The 47th session of the Council began on 21 June and Ireland will make national statements on a broad range of thematic issues and country-specific human rights situations including in regard to trafficking and violence against women. My Department meets regularly with the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Professor Siobhán Mullally from NUI Galway. On 28 June Professor Mullally will present her report on the principle of non-punishment of victims of human trafficking and Ireland will deliver a national statement during the subsequent interactive dialogue.

At EU level, combating trafficking is a key priority in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Plan’s objectives include promoting measures to prevent and fully eradicate trafficking in human beings, including by countering impunity for all perpetrators involved.

Finally, Ireland provides core funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). IOM works in partnership with governments, the United Nations, international and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and development partners on all aspects of counter-trafficking responses: prevention, protection, and prosecution.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken by the international community to address human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Myanmar and any other locations in which those seeking democratic principles are being imprisoned for their beliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34203/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland together with our international partners has been active in raising our concerns in relation to the situations in Hong Kong, in Myanmar and in other locations where human rights are under threat.

Like our EU partners, Ireland is concerned about the adoption by the National People’s Congress of a national security law in Hong Kong, which risks undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle. Ireland fully supports the Council Conclusions on Hong Kong adopted by the EU last July, which set out a coordinated response package of measures in various fields including the operation of Member States' extradition agreements and other relevant agreements with Hong Kong. In line with these Conclusions, on 13 October 2020, the Government agreed to suspend Ireland’s Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong. I also raised the matter of Hong Kong in my recent meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on 30 May.

The EU has also issued a number of statements in response to this situation. Most recently the High Representative and Vice President issued a statement on 9 June which stated that the EU will continue to pay increased attention to the situation in Hong Kong as part of the overall relations between the European Union and China. Prior to this, EU Member States issued a statement on 11 March which highlights our regret that the fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, and political pluralism that are central to Hong Kong's identity and prosperity are under increasing pressure by authorities.

Additionally, the EU has raised its concerns regarding the situation with Chinese authorities on a number of occasions, including directly during the most recent EU-China Summit and EU-China Leaders' Meetings, and in multilateral fora such as the Human Rights Council.

Ireland has strongly condemned the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and its use of violence against civilians. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish, and does nothing to tackle the public health, security or economic issues faced by the people of Myanmar. I have called upon the Myanmar military to demonstrate restraint; respect human rights and the rule of law; immediately release political detainees; and restore legitimate civilian government. 

Ireland remains active on this issue within the UN Security Council. The Council has expressed deep concerns regarding developments in Myanmar, has strongly condemned the use of violence by the military and has called for the release of all those detained. It is welcome that the Security Council has taken a united position on this crisis as this sends a strong message to the Myanmar military. 

Ireland was also a member of the core group for the Resolution on Myanmar that was comprehensively adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 June, which included a call on all states to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar. The Irish Mission to the UN continues to follow developments closely.  

Additionally, I have endorsed the adoption of three rounds of EU sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup and the economic entities that sustain them, the most recent round being adopted on 21 June. Ireland will continue to urge the consideration by the EU of further measures that would be effective in working to restore the democratic path in Myanmar without negatively affecting developmental gains or exacerbating the humanitarian situation. 

Military rule opens significant scope for further human rights abuses in Myanmar and Ireland has voiced its concern at the Special Session and the 46th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council. We welcome the unanimous resolutions agreed at both sessions. The consensus shown by the Human Rights Council is a significant and positive signal of accord on this issue within the international community.  

Ireland and the EU will continue to monitor these situations and to raise our concerns in relation to Hong Kong, Myanmar and elsewhere, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora.