I welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's message for the 45th World Day
of Peace 2012 and his theme of “Educating Young People in Justice and
Peace”.
A commitment to justice and to peace is fundamental to achieving human
rights. Through our participation in the European Union, in our ongoing
commitment over many decades with a process that has lead to peace on our
island, and by our strong engagement with the peacekeeping forces of the
United Nations, the Irish people have demonstrated an instinctive respect
for peace, justice and human rights. It is absolutely right that these
values are transmitted to the next generation. It is the case also that the
honour and duty of passing on those values falls to those formally charged
with the education of our young and beyond that the whole of society.
Both within our own country, and in the wider world, Ireland is at the fore
of those promoting peace, justice, security and development. This is a
commitment and an engagement that we take with the utmost seriousness that
this why, this year, for the first time, Ireland is seeking election to the
United Nations Human Rights Council. If elected, Ireland would support
clear and strong action by the Council in addressing human rights
violations and in promoting universal respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms.