Govt urged to improve support for human rights workers

Amnesty International has called on the Irish Government to seek greater protection for human rights defenders during an EU-Latin America summit taking place in Mexico today.

Amnesty said Ireland should use its presidency of the EU to make the issue a priority at the summit.

Sean Love, the director of the organisation’s Irish branch, said the Irish presidency of the EU had promised to enhance support for human rights workers, but the matter was not even on the agenda at today’s meeting.

Mr Love said harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders was rife in many Latin American countries.