Malala Yousafzai – Foreign Affairs and Trade

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which unilaterally or in conjunction with his EU and UN colleagues he can focus worldwide attention on the fate of Malala Yousufzai who was gunned down for having the temerity to raise the question of girls’ rights to education and who has maintained her position for which she has unfortunately paid a very high price, if he will encourage his international colleagues to use all their influence to ensure that the cause to which she is espoused is invigorated by her sacrifice and example; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 17th October, 2012.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his EU colleagues directly or in conjunction with the UN can bring diplomatic pressure to bear on those responsible for the shooting of Malala Yousufzai who has shown great courage and commitment in highlighting discrimination against girls in the education system and who has continued to wage a campaign for her contemporaries even in the face of violence; if he will endeavour to engage the international community to discourage and condemn the situation which led to her shooting and bring to justice her perpetrators; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 17th October, 2012.

45232/12

Reply: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: I propose to take Questions 37 and 69 together.

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Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Ankara. Therefore I have requested that officials at the Embassy maintain contact with relevant EU colleagues in Islamabad regarding this case.

The Deputy will be aware that since this incident the High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton and the Secretary General of the United National Ban Ki Moon have both issued statements condemning this attack. I share their condemnation; such incidents are unacceptable. Like many others, I admire Malala Yousufzai’s courageous efforts to promote the fundamental right to education. She has arrived in England for specialist treatment and I wish her a full and speedy recovery.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. The EU has made clear to the Government of Pakistan that under its constitutional and international requirements it has a responsibility to protect its citizens.

Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and opinion. I will continue to work with my international colleagues through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that these rights are protected. Furthermore, I have asked officials in my Department to monitor and report on the ongoing situation in Pakistan.

appalled to learn that a 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, was attacked by extremists for advocating girls’ rights to education in Swat, Pakistan. Malala Yousafzai is an admirable young woman who received Pakistan’s first national peace award last year, and was also nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.