The unresolved boundary dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has created a tense stalemate between the two countries. On occasion, both Eritrea and Ethiopia have amassed troops at the border. While UNMEE’s mandate concerns the temporary security zone (TSZ) between the two countries, the situation in the TSZ has also been affected by the general conditions and human rights situations in both of them.
Through various sub-offices and a number of human rights officers, the human rights component of this peacekeeping mission monitored the human rights situation in the TSZ on both sides of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The prolonged illegal and arbitrary detention of individuals arrested within the zone, and of those civilians who voluntarily cross into it, continues to be a problem. During 2006-2007, in addition to monitoring the TSZ, the Human Rights Section of UNMEE provided human rights training for peacekeepers and held human rights workshops for law enforcement officials, judicial bodies and civil society organizations in Ethiopia.
The possibility of downgrading the UNMEE mission has led to the elaboration of several contingency plans since 2006. It is anticipated that in the 2008-2009 biennium, the Human Rights Section will continue monitoring the TSZ. Once the border demarcation is settled, the likely residual human rights issues, such as nationality issues, unaccompanied minors, property issues, monitoring of the treatment and/or repatriation by Ethiopia and by Eritrea of each other's nationals, and the debriefing of returnees and asylum-seekers, will require human rights expertise and a core operating staff.