Human Rights Council 37th Session (26 February-23 March 2018)
Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Intervention by Ireland
1 March 2018
Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and adds the following.
Mr President,
Ireland warmly welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and thanks him for the work carried out to date.
This year the international community marks the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on human rights defenders, the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. These instruments are under increasing pressure in all regions of the world and perhaps now more than ever before, the international community must work together to protect and promote them and the values underlined therein.
Ireland has been a longstanding advocate of the key role played by civil society, including human rights defenders in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights for all. This role has become ever more vital as we see many States failing in their responsibility to protect these rights. We are thus gravely concerned by the alarming rise in acts of reprisals and threats from both States and non-State actors against human rights defenders. The failure of States to protect human rights defenders and to create a safe and enabling environment for their work has a damaging impact on all rights and rights-holders.
We welcome the focus of this year’s report on the timely issue of the situation of persons acting to defend the rights of people on the move and we are alarmed by the finding therein that civil society space for these individuals is nearly closed.
Mr Forst, how can States use the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on human rights defenders to reinforce the importance of human rights defenders in an environment that is increasingly hostile to their work?
Turning now to the issue of torture – we thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and echo the concerns expressed therein.
Ireland condemns, at the highest level, all forms of torture and ill-treatment. We strongly believe that the absolute prohibition of torture is one of the cornerstones of the international human rights framework and we recall that all countries are obligated to comply with this unconditional prohibition and that no exceptional circumstances may be invoked as a justification for torture or any other form of ill-treatment.
Given the absolute prohibition, we are concerned by the report’s finding that people on the move are becoming more vulnerable to human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment. We also agree with the Special Rapporteur that non-state actors pose a significant threat in this regard.
The forthcoming Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees, following on from the New York Declaration, provide an opportunity to address these issues in a more coordinated and determined manner.
Mr. Melzer, recognising that the primary responsibility to protect human rights lies with States, what can we do to prevent and investigate acts of torture and other ill-treatment suffered by people on the move at the hands of non-State actors?
