Funding boost for UN human rights body
Almost €3m in funding is to be awarded to a United Nations body working for human rights, it emerged today.
Conor Lenihan, minister for development aid, revealed the €2.9m package would be handed to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Mr Lenihan said the 15% increase in Government funding would ensure that providing development aid went hand in hand with supporting human rights.
“Ireland is already a leading contributor to the OHCHR and I am delighted to be able to respond to the Secretary General’s appeal with this substantially increased contribution,” he said.
Mr Lenihan said the need to increase the resources available to the OHCHR had been highlighted in a report of the United Nations Secretary General, In Larger Freedom.
“Given the High Commissioner’s emphasis on enhancing the Office’s field capacity I have asked that a portion of this funding be committed to OHCHR’s field offices in developing countries,” he said.
“Human rights and development share a common objective – realising the potential of the individual to the full.
“It is often said that there cannot be real development without human rights and that human rights cannot be guaranteed without development.”
The funding package was announced at the seventh annual Department of Foreign Affairs NGO Forum on Human Rights in Dublin.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia, called on delegates at the conference to hold an free and open debate on human rights.
“Human rights are inviolable.” Dr Kaunda said.
“Let us appeal to all governments to strictly observe the rights of their citizens. Let us appeal to governments to ensure that the rights of the children and the vulnerable in society are fully respected.
“Let us be the advocates for the respect of the rights of the voiceless in society including those who may be afflicted with AIDS by fighting stigma and discrimination.”
Mr Lenihan also held talks with Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mehr Khan Williams, to discuss the funding allocation.
