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HRC 55 - Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

28.02.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

55^th session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on

the situation of human rights in Eritrea

28 February 2024

EU Intervention

Mister President,

The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur for his oral update and reaffirms its support to his mandate.

The EU welcomes some progress made in the sphere of social rights. Nevertheless, the EU remains highly concerned by the human rights situation in Eritrea, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, including arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. The EU calls on Eritrea to reveal the whereabouts of those disappeared and release those held arbitrarily, notably the 13 Djiboutian fighters whose whereabouts are unknown since 2008. The practice of indefinite National Service, including the reported conscription of children, and the persistence of sexual and gender-based violencealso remain sources of great concern.

In December 2023, the Council of the EU prolonged the restrictive measures against Eritrea's National Security Agency for serious human rights violations.

We call on the Government of Eritrea to guarantee the exercise of freedom of expression and opinion, the right to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of peaceful assembly and association in line with its international human rights obligations, and in respect of the Habeas Corpus.

The EU calls upon the Government of Eritrea to substantially its claim it has fully withdrawn its troops from Ethiopia. Credible, independent investigations of alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed during the war in Northern Ethiopia are important for providing justice to all victims, including Eritreans who had found refuge in Ethiopia.

The EU calls on the Government of Eritrea to sign and ratify all International Conventions related to Human Rights, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities.

The EU welcomes Eritrea's engagement in the ongoing UPR process. We call on Eritrea to also cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and grant him full and unhindered access. We encourage Eritrea to facilitate a visit of the Special Rapporteur or other mandate holders.

The EU also encourages Eritrea to intensify its dialogue with the OHCHR, and implement Eritrea's partnership with the United Nations under the Strategic Partnership Cooperation Framework.

The EU stands ready to continue its engagement with Eritrea and its people on the basis of a comprehensive, constructive and long term approach.

Dr. Babiker,how do you plan to engage in dialogue with the Eritrean side on human rights issues in the coming months?

Thank you.