SEÁN FLEMING, Minister of State of Ireland, highlighted the need to defend the universal nature of human rights and uphold the international legal order.  In this context, he reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting the essential work of the International Court of Justice and called on all States to abide by its rulings.  Likewise, the International Criminal Court — the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system — must be allowed to pursue its mandate without fear, he observed, condemning all attempts to intimidate or threaten the Court, its officials or those cooperating with it.  Warning against the global backlash against the human rights of women and girls, he said that the gender persecution in Afghanistan stands out for its cruelty and must be denounced.  Hard-won progress is threatened and even reversed in too many parts of our world.  “We cannot accept this,” he stressed, noting that States’ commitment to gender equality must be non-negotiable.

He further underscored the need to address the unacceptable rise in attacks on the rights to life, liberty, and security of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons worldwide and condemn all forms of racism, intolerance and hatred, including antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and persecution of Christians.  On the destructive impacts of climate change — the driver and multiplier of instability and conflict that “threatens us all” — he pointed out that those who have contributed least to climate change are among the most vulnerable to its impacts. “We need collective action, at speed and at scale, to avert the most catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis,” he said, adding that Ireland’s international development budget is at record levels and, per capita, it is one of the strongest providers of humanitarian assistance.

He further voiced concern over “the very real prospect” of a regional war in the Middle East, pointing to the spiralling violence in Lebanon. While Hizbullah has long been a malign actor in the region, massive and ongoing Israeli air strikes on densely populated areas are causing indiscriminate death of civilians and destruction on a vast scale, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee.  “A ground war would be truly catastrophic,” he stated, calling on all parties to immediately de-escalate and on all States that have influence — including Iran — to use it constructively.  Citing Israel’s response to the 7 October 2023 attacks as “completely disproportionate”, he stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal, followed by a massive surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.  Instead, we see an alarming escalation of the conflict, he observed, adding that “the violence and killing must stop”.  He also reiterated Ireland’s commitment to holding the Russian Federation accountable for its actions in Ukraine and to bringing about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in that country.