OHCHR in Eritrea (2006-2007)

Background

 
Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in June 2000, following a two-year conflict over a border dispute. In July, the Security Council set up the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to monitor the cessation of hostilities and the border delineation (temporary security zone) between Ethiopia and Eritrea . 
 

2006-2007 Programme

 
The human rights component of UNMEE coordinates human rights activities in the temporary security zone (TSZ) and areas adjacent areas.

With substantive guidance from OHCHR, the human rights component advises the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, monitors and reports on the human rights situation and works to protect the rights of vulnerable groups and communities living in the sensitive border areas. OHCHR also p rovides human rights training to UNMEE and works with the United Nations Country Teams in both Ethiopia and Eritrea to integrate human rights in their programming.  

Although t he human rights component of the mission was originally established to monitor the human rights situation in the TSZ, i n the last few years, there has been a positive trend towards technical cooperation activities aimed at capacity-building.

The human rights component of UNMEE supports efforts to resolve the stalemate over the demarcation issue as it infringes the full implementation of the human rights mandate. In the post-demarcation period, it is envisaged that the human rights component will contribute to identifying human rights priorities and activities.

Expected Accomplishments

 
Improved protection of the human rights of the people affected by the border conflict.

Assist UNMEE in the monitoring and reporting of the human rights and humanitarian developments occurring border area between the two countries;

Improved national capacity to monitor and report on human rights issues.

Strengthened national human rights institutions.

Integration of a human rights based approach into the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).