Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions the Government is taking to raise the plight of religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, in light of a recent USCIRF report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57887/21]

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

I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Afghanistan, including the Taliban’s approach to religious and ethnic minorities. The recent report on Afghanistan from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is troubling, outlining the constraints on religious freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, including the reinstatement of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Reports of widespread persecution of religious minorities are alarming, as is the finding that those belonging to religious minorities are now living under fear of reprisals for practicing their religion.

The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (more commonly referred to as freedom of religion and belief) is a fundamental freedom, provided for under Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. It is a priority for Ireland’s human rights engagement at both multilateral and bilateral levels and we consistently co-sponsors resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at the UN.

Ireland fully subscribes to the EU benchmarks, set out in Council Conclusions on 15 September, which outline our expectations of the Taliban. Future EU support will depend on respect for the international legal framework and norms on human rights. The Conclusions call on the Taliban to promote, protect and respect all human rights, including those of persons belonging to minorities.

This document forms the basis of EU contact with the Taliban, including the scheduled meetings in Doha this coming weekend, led by EU Special Envoy Tomas Niklasson. The conditions do not preclude a certain level of working contact required for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and evacuation of EU nationals. The Conclusions are clear that such contact does not confer any legitimacy on the Taliban.

Ireland has also expressed concern about the human rights situation in Afghanistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council. On 7 October, at the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, an EU-led Resolution was adopted on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan. The resolution established a mandate for a Special Rapporteur (SR) to to monitor the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The SR is mandated to seek, receive, examine and act on information from all relevant stakeholders pertaining to the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.

At the UN Security Council, Ireland has also highlighted the plight of minorities at the since the Taliban takeover, most recently on 17 November. Ireland strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks, violence, intimidation and forced displacement targeting minorities.

Approximately 500 Afghan citizens have been offered refugee status in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). A number of the IRRP beneficiaries are from minority religious and ethnic backgrounds, including Shia and Hazara.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assessment the Government has made of the recent reports from an independent NGO (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57888/21]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel generally, and in Burkina Faso specifically, is of significant concern. Burkina Faso faces internal and external threats, with internal non-state armed actors frequently linked to extremists in neighbouring countries.

The deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso has many complex and interwoven drivers provoking tensions within and between groups. These drivers include: poverty; lack of access to services; weak state structures, including security; cross-border security threats; rapidly increasing populations; climate change; and diminishing access to resources. Increased violence against civilians, including the killings of over 160 civilians in June and 59 civilians in August, is the regrettable outworking of these tensions, which also may have a sectarian dimension.

I condemn all attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso, in the wider Sahel and elsewhere, irrespective of who the perpetrators of such violence are, and their purported motives. There is no justification for acts of violence or discrimination based on religion or beliefs.

Ireland is working with partners in support of the protection of civilians across the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso.

In line with commitments in Ireland’s Africa Strategy to 2025, Ireland has significantly enhanced our engagement in francophone West Africa and the Sahel in recent years. Members of the Permanent Defence Forces are serving as peacekeepers with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Mali, and the EU Training Mission in Mali(EUTM). An Irish civilian expert is also deployed to the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger.

Irish Aid has contributed over €3.2 million in bilateral funding since 2014 to civil society working in Burkina Faso, and supports the ongoing work of the International Committee of the Red Crossthere. In addition, Irish Aid funds a number of smaller organisations working on youth, peace and security.

Burkina Faso also receives United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UN CERF) funding, this year totaling over $11 million. Ireland is the eighth largest donor the UN CERF since the Fund's inception.

As a EU Member State, Ireland also contributes to peace and security in Burkina Faso. The EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa has allocated €184.5 million to Burkina Faso, to help that country address the root causes of instability.

As a member of the UN Security Council, Ireland is engaging with the African Union and other regional organisations on a range of issues of interest to the continent, including the Sahel. I note in particular, our close partnership with Niger as co-penholders on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). As co-penholder, our key priority is to support and facilitate UNOWAS in its work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, as well as promoting democracy and respect for human rights in the region. In its most recent Presidential Statement on this matter, on 17 August 2021, the UN Security Council strongly condemned continued attacks against civilians in the region, and expressed the need for accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

88. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government intends to raise the recent and ongoing destruction of places of religious worship by the military in Myanmar, as evidenced by recent media reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57889/21]

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

Ireland strongly condemns the coup carried out by the Myanmar military in February and its attempts to legitimise the military regime. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish. I am appalled by the grave human rights violations perpetrated by the Myanmar military in recent months and deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in recent weeks. I am also aware of reports of attacks against places of worship across Myanmar, including in Shan State.

Since the military coup, I have issued three statements strongly condemning the coup, calling for the immediate release of detainees, and expressing abhorrence at the indefensible killing of unarmed civilians. Ireland is also actively engaged through the European Union and in our role as an elected member of the Security Council to call on all sides to refrain from violence, and to fully respect human rights and comply with international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law.

On 10 November, the EU released a statement condemning in the strongest terms the attacks by the Myanmar military on civilians and villages in Chin State, including the use of torture, sexual violence, arbitrary detention and the destruction of private property and religious sites, which are blatant violations of human rights and international law and call for justice and accountability.

The situation in Myanmar has been considered seven times by the United Nations Security Council, most recently on 8 November 2021. At that meeting Ireland also raised the destruction of places of worship. The Security Council issued a statement on 10 November expressing deep concern at further recent violence across Myanmar and calling for an immediate cessation.

Military rule opens scope for further human rights abuses in Myanmar and Ireland has voiced its concern at four sessions of the Human Rights Council since February 2021. Ireland has consistently voiced support for international efforts towards ensuring accountability and justice in Myanmar, including the ongoing processes at the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Ireland will continue to work actively to use our influence with partners and through our position on the Security Council and our EU membership to promote the rule of law and protect the human rights of the people of Myanmar.