Foreign Affairs Update: India 16th January 2013
16th January 2013 - Bernard Durkan TD
Question No. 69
Parliamentary Question – Dept Details
To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which, at EU and UN level, he and his colleagues are in a position to focus attention on the rape and sexual assaults on women and girls worldwide regardless of nationality or culture with particular reference to the most recent incidents in India; if international pressure can be brought on all countries with a view to stamping out such attacks and the culture surrounding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 16th January, 2013.
Ref No: 1936/13 Proof: 85
REPLY
Ireland which is a member of the Human Rights Council as of this month is, and has always been, fully committed to ensure that sexual assaults against women are condemned and eliminated. The same holds true for all the Member States of the European Union. The EU has made protection of the rights of women and protection against gender-based violence a key feature of the EU’s Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. The EU has also sought to clear the way for greater cooperation between the EU and the UN on this agenda.
Rape and sexual assault cannot be tolerated, regardless of the gender, status or circumstance of the victim, or whether the assault occurred in Ireland or abroad. I condemn unreservedly the recent attacks which have taken place in India and I am aware that there have been reported widespread expressions of outrage there too. I note that the Indian prosecutorial system has brought a number of men before the courts to be charged and tried in relation to these two recent, specific incidents which have been reported worldwide in the media.
The next meeting of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place this month and the issue of women’s rights will be discussed. I have asked the officials in our Embassy in New Delhi to participate fully in the preparatory discussions for this Dialogue.
Bernard Durkan TD
Kildare NorthBernard J Durkan is the Fine Gael spokesperson on Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Originally from Killasser, Co Mayo,…
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