“Governance and Human Rights Support Central for Development Efforts” - O'Donnell
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D., has announced a IR£5.5 million aid package for 41 humanitarian projects in 22 of the world's poorest countries. The package includes IR£250,000 for the survivors of the earthquake in Peru last month and a further IR£100,000 to support the International Federation of the Red Cross' (IFRC) regional preparedness programme in Latin America in order to help cope with future natural disasters there.
The Minister said that almost IR£1.4 million has been allocated this year by Ireland Aid for the promotion and protection of human rights and support for democracy and good governance in Ireland Aid's non-priority developing countries. The package announced today draws from Ireland Aid's Emergency (IR£2.4m), Rehabilitation (IR£2.6m) and Human Rights (IR£0.5m) budgets and in a new departure addresses ongoing, forgotten and sudden onset emergencies in a pro-active, rather than re-active, manner. The Minister said that “these grants will have a real and positive impact on the lives of poor people living in developing countries.”
IR£840,000 has been allocated for supporting mine action and mine victim support programmes in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia and Vietnam. “Our support for children at risk and mine action brings these evil forms of exploitation and cruelty into sharp focus,” the Minister said. “These are two evils which must continually strive to eradicate by concerted action in political, human rights and humanitarian terms.”
Today's package includes:
Trócaire Guatemala: Human Rights Education and Exhumations Project
IR£36,923
The objective of the project is to contribute to the process of reconciliation at local and national level, to strengthen the implementation of the rule of law and respect for human rights focussing on the consolidation of democratic processes in Guatemala. In December 1996, a Peace Accord was signed between the Government and the URNG (Rebel Groups) concluding 36 years of civil conflict in Guatemala. An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people were killed and 40,000 disappeared during this period. The exhumations will affect 300 to 400 families and will tackle the culture of impunity which has grown up around atrocities. The project will also include training and evaluation sessions for the forensic teams involved, together with members of the Attorney General's Office.
Save the Children Children's Rights in Ghana: From Policy to Practice
IR£75,000
Ghana was the first country in Africa to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and a Children's Act introduced by the Ghanaian Government in 1998 provides a framework for the enforcement of children's rights to protection. The project will develop the capacity at district level to support the implementation of the Act and will target children in conflict with the law, child victims of physical, mental and sexual abuse, children with disabilities, children affected by harmful traditional practices and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF Child Protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo
IR£250,000
War has ravaged the DR Congo since 1998, engulfing several nations in the Great Lakes and Central African regions. The number of vulnerable people is estimated at 16 million or 33% of the population. UNICEF's programme in DR Congo assists displaced and traumatised children, unaccompanied minors and demobilised child soldiers by reinforcing basic social services such as health and education, psychosocial care (trauma recovery) and family tracing.
A full list of projects is attached.
Note for Editors
The Government is committed to reaching the UN aid target of 0.7% of GNP by the end of the year 2007 with an interim target of 0.45% of GNP by 2002. Irish Overseas Development Assistance is set to top IR£250 million this year, rising to IR£350 million next year and an estimated IR£800 million in 2007. Minister O'Donnell is currently chairing the Ireland Aid Review Group which aims to set out the best possible basis for the expanded programme.
Ireland Aid Combined Mid-Year Package June 2001
Emergency, Rehabilitation & Human Rights Assistance
SUMMARY
COUNTRY/SECTOR AGENCY (Project) AMOUNT BUDGET
AFGHANISTAN Int'l Comm. of Red Cross (Mine Victim Support) £250,000 EPPR
ANGOLA Save the Children (Emergency Feeding) £89,000 EHAF
UNICEF (Child Protection & Education) £250,000 EHAF
UNICEF (Mine Awareness) £100,000 EHAF
BALKANS CARE (Strengthening Youth Sector) £75,000 HR&D
BANGLADESH Concern Universal £38,693 HR&D
BEST PRACTICE Humanitarian Practice Network (Aid Standards) £60,000 EPPR
CAMBODIA Halo Trust (Mine Action) £295,000 EPPR
CENTRAL AFRICA ICG (Disaster Analysis) £50,000 EPPR
LATIN AMERICA IFRC (Emergency Preparedness) £100,000 EPPR
CENTRAL ASIA ICG (Disaster Analysis) £50,000 EPPR
COLOMBIA World Vision (Displaced Persons Support) £147,000 EHAF
Concern Universal (Protection of Child Rights) £74,999 HR&D
DRC UNICEF (Child Protection) £250,000 EHAF
EL SALVADOR GOAL (Housing) £150,000 EPPR
ERITREA Refugee Trust (Emergency Relief) £139,000 EHAF
UNHCR (Refugee Repatriation) £250,000 EPPR
GHANA Save the Children (Child Rights Practice) £75,000 HR&D
GUATEMALA Trócaire (Human Rights & Exhumations) £36,923 HR&D
HR DEFENDERS Front Line (Human Rights Defenders) £53,928 HR&D
INDIA Women's Political Watch (Governance Training) £26,632 HR&D
KENYA ICRC (Emergency Assistance) £250,000 EHAF
Trócaire (Drought Recovery) £59,000 EPPR
LIBERIA Concern (Displaced Persons Support) £175,000 EHAF
PALESTINE Save the Children (Child Rights Protection) £70,000 HR&D
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (HR Project) £66,229 HR&D
PERU IFRC (Earthquake Relief) £250,000 EHAF
RWANDA ICRC (Prison Feeding) £200,000 EPPR
SIERRA LEONE Concern (Displaced Persons Health) £61,000 EHAF
Concern (School Rehabilitation) £97,000 EPPR
UNICEF (Child Protection) £250,000 EHAF
SOMALIA UNICEF (Water & Sanitation) £200,000 EPPR
WFP (Relief & Recovery) £150,000 EPPR
SUDAN Tearfund (Emergency Nutrition) £114,000 EHAF
Trócaire (Displaced Persons Support) £50,000 EHAF
Concern (Water & Hygiene) £139,000 EPPR
GOAL (Primary Health Care) £175,000 EHAF
TAJIKISTAN WFP (Relief & Recovery) £200,000 EPPR
UNICEF (Water & Sanitation) £125,000 EPPR
THAI/BURMESE BORDER Trócaire (Burmese Refugee Support) £75,000 EHAF
VIETNAM Mines Advisory Group (Mine Clearance) £195,000 EPPR
TOTAL EMERGENCY BUDGET (EHAF) £2,375,000
TOTAL REHABILITATION BUDGET (EPPR) £2,570,000
TOTAL HUMAN RIGHTS & DEMOCRATISATION BUDGET (HR&D) £ 517,404
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TOTAL MID-YEAR PACKAGE £5,462,404Top
