Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the repression of the Uyghur people in China by the Chinese state; his plans on behalf of Ireland, given Ireland's position on the UN Security Council and in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57537/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has consistently raised the human rights situation in Xinjiang both in the UN and through other international fora. Ireland welcomed publication on 31 August of the assessment by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The report found that several human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including forced labour, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. This is a serious and significant finding by a leading UN body. 

Senior officials in my Department raised the findings of the High Commissioner's report with their Chinese counterparts on 1 September and again on 22 September. They outlined Ireland’s long held position and urged China to give serious consideration to the assessment and the recommendations proposed by the OHCHR.

On 31 October, Ireland joined 49 other UN Member States in a joint statement at the Third Committee. This statement urged China to fulfil its international human rights commitments and implement the recommendations of the report.

Ireland also co-sponsored a resolution at the most recent session of the Human Rights Council, which called for a debate on the situation at the Council.  This resolution did not pass and I regret that we will not have the opportunity to discuss the High Commissioner's assessment or the situation in Xinjiang at the next Council session.  The Human Rights Council must fulfil its role in promoting respect for human rights for all, without distinction of any kind.

On 22 March 2021, the EU listed four individuals and one entity from China for their involvement in serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR). These are designed to act as a deterrent and to encourage changes in these actors’ behaviour and sanctions are based on solid legal evidence.

Ireland will continue to raise these issues with the Chinese authorities in our bilateral contacts, through our membership of the EU, and at the United Nations.