Sir, – Mary Fitzgerald (Home News, January 2nd) reports that Ireland is seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council as the Taoiseach outlined Ireland’s commitment to “promoting universal respect for human rights”.
Isn’t it ironic then, that no more than 24 hours later, the Government announces its intention to shelve plans for a national children’s detention facility? I sincerely doubt it will sit well with the powers that be in the UN to know that children as young as 16 will be subject to conditions akin to an adult prison.
Perhaps any future “commitment” to human rights from our Government should come with a “terms and conditions apply tag? Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad. – Is mise,
Sir, – An Taoiseach Enda Kenny wants Ireland to seek election to the UN Human Rights Council (Home News, January 2nd).
193 children went missing from HSE care last year as well as three unaccompanied minors who have still to be traced, (January 3rd).
An Taoiseach should hang his head in shame on both counts. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Hopefully, Ireland will be successful in its bid to join the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The State’s chances of being elected would be enhanced enormously if Taoiseach Enda Kenny were to dedicate himself and his Government to lobbying on behalf of the poorest of the poor in the developing world.
As merely one instance, our Government should oppose at every turn the on-going naked exploitation of Africa’s resources by foreign powers.
China is gaining access to large tracts of mineral-rich and fertile agricultural land, and in the process displacing local populations, depriving them of their only sources of livelihood. Oil-rich states in the Middle East and multi-national financial institutions from the West are also buying or leasing millions of hectares of Africa’s land, mostly to grow cheap food for their home markets.
During the past three years alone, 60 million hectares (an area the size of France) has been taken by foreigners, resulting in millions of local farmers, pastoralists, herders and fisherfolk being driven from ancestral homelands and water sources to make way for the foreign investors. As much as 9 per cent of the most arable terrain of the new state of South Sudan has already been sold to foreign interests.
Many local governments in Africa are profiting heavily from these transactions, but as always the losers are powerless populations, many of whom are already struggling to survive.
By tackling an issue that is being ignored by other Western governments, Mr Kenny can become a true champion of the poor and the dispossessed. – Yours, etc,