Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea
30 June 2020
Madam President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
I am very pleased to join this session of the Human Rights Council and
present my second annual report on the situation of human rights in
Eritrea. I would like to begin by wishing all participants in this session
good health and by thanking the organisers for facilitating my
intervention.
Before turning to my report, I note that, like other countries across the
globe, Eritrea has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In recent weeks,
as the authorities have expanded their testing, the number of confirmed
cases has increased, although the numbers reported remain low. We must be
conscious, however, that the actual numbers will likely be higher. I am
concerned that the Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating the situation of
famine and malnutrition that exists in parts of the country and is
contributing to food shortages, in part due to the border closure and the
restrictions on food imports currently in place. For example, recent
reports indicate that disadvantaged populations in and around the towns of
Massawa and Assab and in the regions bordering Ethiopia and Sudan have been
experiencing severe food shortages. I urge the Eritrean authorities to
ensure, with the assistance of their international partners, that emergency
food supplies reach all segments of the population during this difficult
period.
Turning now to my report, over this past year, I have seen no tangible
evidence of a meaningful and substantive improvement in the situation of
human rights in Eritrea. In my report, I have set out specific areas of
concern in relation to five benchmarks for progress. In my remarks today, I
wish to focus on three key areas where reforms would signal that Eritrea is
moving in a positive direction.
First, to demonstrate progress in human rights, an important initial step
is for the Eritrean authorities to address the situation of those
arbitrarily and unlawfully detained and of those who have disappeared in
the prison system. I have repeatedly raised this issue and have noted the
lack of progress regarding the situation of political prisoners, prisoners
of conscience and others arbitrarily and unlawfully detained. It is quite
striking that the Eritrean authorities remain completely silent on this
issue. There are many unanswered questions regarding individual cases. For
example, where is Ciham Ali Abdu, held for almost 8 years, and when will
she be released? After two years in detention, where is Berhane Abrehe and
when will he be released? After 19 years in detention, where is Dawit Isaak
and when will he be released? And when will the authorities release Paulos
Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, three conscientious objectors
held for 26 years? The Eritrean authorities will demonstrate their genuine
commitment to human rights when they release those individuals arbitrarily
held in Eritrean prisons and provide information about those who have
disappeared to their families.
Second, to advance towards meaningful and sustainable development, Eritrea
must invest in its youth. This requires the creation of positive conditions
encouraging, among other things, youth to remain in the country. During
this past year, we have seen a steady flow of youth fleeing from Eritrea.
These young people are not leaving because they are being lured out of the
country by the refugee camps in neighbouring Ethiopia, as the Eritrean
authorities claim, but because they have no prospects for a future in
Eritrea. Of particular concern is the high number of children among those
leaving. Up until the Covid-19 travel restrictions came into effect in
March, over 20 per cent of those fleeing from Eritrea to Ethiopia on a
monthly basis were unaccompanied children. More than 40 per cent of
Eritrean refugees currently living in camps in Ethiopia are children. In
the early months of this year, around 10 per cent of Eritrean refugees
crossing into Sudan were unaccompanied minors. While we are now living in
unusual times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and travel and movement
restrictions are in effect, once these restrictions are eased, this exodus
of Eritrea’s youth will continue. It is difficult to envisage a sustainable
and prosperous future for Eritrea without its young people. As I have
outlined in detail in my report, for Eritrea to support its youth, reforms
are needed on various fronts, including in job creation, in the promotion
of civil liberties, in education and in the national service.
Third, to build the foundations for a thriving society, the Eritrean
authorities must open civic space for independent civil society. Today,
there is no space for independent human rights defenders, members of
political opposition and independent journalists. In this last year, we
have witnessed the increased shrinking of civic space in Eritrea, with the
arrests of practitioners of different religious congregations during prayer
gatherings, of members of minority groups and of persons who have expressed
dissent. In several instances, institutions that have called for reforms
and have questioned the actions of the government have themselves faced
reprisals, as in the case of the Catholic Church and of various Islamic
institutions. An open civic space is a basic pillar for the success of any
nation.
Finally, I wish to note that after almost two years of joining this
Council, Eritrea has yet to cooperate with my mandate and with other UN
special procedures. The Eritrean authorities have complained that my report
presents a distorted picture of the situation in the country. At the same
time, the authorities continue to deny me access to the country, refuse to
meet with me and do not respond to my requests for input to my reports. In
my previous interventions before this Council, I have openly invited the
Eritrean authorities to discuss human rights issues with me, and I remain
willing to engage in constructive dialogue with them.
Given that this is the eighth year since the creation of this mandate, I
wish that I could present a more positive report on the human rights
situation in Eritrea. But due to the lack of progress, I cannot. I urge the
Eritrean authorities to be forward looking and to introduce much needed
reforms to ensure the full enjoyment of basic rights for all Eritreans.
Thank you for your attention.