As he meets UN Sec Gen & addresses Assembly, Minister Coveney must prioritise Ireland’s role in international affairs

Monday, September 18th, 2017

Obligations on refugees and development aid must be met

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney’s attendance at the UN this week is the ideal opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s role in world affairs and to stress Ireland’s commitment to meeting targets on issues like refugees and overseas development aid, Oxfam Ireland has said.

Throughout the week, Minister Coveney will address the General Assembly, meet with the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres; attend a meeting on reform hosted by Donald Trump and hold discussions with foreign ministers from around the world.

Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland’s Chief Executive, said: “This week is a huge opportunity for Ireland to reassert its commitment to tackling some of the most pressing issues which affect our country and the world. Global problems are now local problems – issues such as conflict, poverty, migration and gender equality impact on us all.

“Ireland has a proud tradition of multilateral engagement. As a country, we have made our mark through peace keeping operations and our generous response to humanitarian crises. Minister Coveney must use this week to outline some of the specific measures Ireland will progress in areas such as development aid and our role in the ongoing refugee response.

“Despite the welcome recent announcement that Ireland will take 600 refugees next year, which includes an additional 330, overall, our response to refugees has been disappointing. Back in 2015 the Irish Government promised to accept 4,000 people by the end of this year, so far and with just over three months to go, less than a third – just 1,300 – have arrived.

“Our progress in meeting the accepted target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on overseas development aid has been extremely slow. For instance, last year, we allocated just 0.33% to this sector. While we strongly welcome the commitment made by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar to meet this spending pledge we need to see a clear roadmap and targeted deadlines.

“Over 1.3 billion people worldwide live in extreme poverty, and more than 795 million people – one in nine people globally – do not have enough to eat. Despite significant progress being made since the year 2000, we must continue to work together if we are to be the generation that eradicates extreme poverty for good.”

This week, the UN General Assembly marks one year since the international community, including Ireland, adopted the Declaration for Refugees and Migrants which reaffirmed the responsibility of all nations to refugees and laid out a two-year deadline for countries to save lives, protect rights and share responsibility for the existing crisis.

Over 65.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution and disaster, the highest number ever recorded, and there are now over 22.5 million refugees worldwide, more than half of whom are children.

Oxfam is on the ground in nine out of the 10 main countries of origin for refugees in the world including Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in neighbouring host countries like Lebanon and Jordan, along with supporting those who have reached Europe in Greece, Italy, Macedonia and Serbia.

ENDS

Interviews available with Oxfam staff in Dublin and New York.

CONTACT: Daniel English

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