TÁNAISTE INAUGURATES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

As promised in the White Paper on Foreign Policy, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Mr Dick Spring, today inaugurated a Joint Department of Foreign Affairs/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Standing Committee on Human Rights. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, was also in attendance.

The Human Rights Committee reflects the importance being attached both to human rights as a central element of Irish foreign policy and to the role of the Irish NGO community in promoting human rights. It provides a framework for a regular exchange of views between the Department and the NGO community on the human rights aspects of Irish foreign policy. The development builds on - but is not intended to replace - the extensive network of informal contacts that already exists between the Department and NGOs on human rights.

Commenting on the launch of the Committee in Iveagh House today, the Tánaiste said:

"In fulfilling a commitment given in the White Paper, the establishment of this Committee marks an important new development in terms of the role of human rights in Irish foreign policy. It also represents a recognition of the very significant part played by Irish NGOs in the human rights area, a recognition which I believe is shared by all parties in the Oireachtas.

The Committee will provide a forum for more structured exchanges of views between the Department and the NGO community on international human rights issues. This will be valuable to the Department and, I hope also, to the NGO community".

Referring to President Robinson's candidacy for the post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Tánaiste said that he was very encouraged by the reaction internationally to the campaign that had been conducted in support of the President's candidacy. While this appointment is the prerogative of the UN Secretary General and the General Assembly which must not pre-judged, the Tánaiste said that he was hopeful of a successful outcome to the President's candidacy. "I am certain that the cause of human rights would be very well served by the President's assumption of such an important international role", the Tánaiste said.

Note for editors:

In addition to representatives of NGOs, the Committee also includes a number of experts in the human rights field. One seat on the Committee is being reserved for Solidarity groups, to be filled on a rotational basis. In addition, provision has been made for Ad Hoc membership of the Committee by other organisations and individuals in respect of specific issues. Moreover, it is hoped to hold once a year an NGO Forum on Human Rights, to which all interested NGOs will be invited. The Tánaiste intends that these measures collectively will ensure that the framework for the exchange of views between the Department and the NGO community is as broadly based as possible.

At its first meeting, the Committee discussed its programme of work. It also had an exchange of views on the nature of consultations generally between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the NGO community on human rights issues. The question of increasing human rights awareness was also discussed in the context of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the 5th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action in 1998. The Department of Foreign Affairs briefed the Committee on the recent Annual Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

It is envisaged that the Committee will meet three times a year, although additional meetings may be called if circumstances make these necessary.

A list of the members of the Committee is attached.Top