HRC62 - EU Introductory Statement - Situation of human rights in Eritrea
UN Human Rights Council
62nd session – Item 2
L.3 REV1 – Introductory statement
Situation of human rights in Eritrea
EU Introductory Statement
Mr. President,
On behalf of the European Union, I have the honor to present draft resolution L.3 REV1, entitled “Situation of human rights in Eritrea”. This resolution seeks to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for an additional year.
At the start, we stress that the EU has appreciated the increased dialogue with Eritrea and looks forward to strengthening this further. There have been a few encouraging developments since last year’s resolution, including a human rights training conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Asmara and the release of some arbitrarily detained persons. We welcome this and call on these to be continued and to be translated into concrete results.
However, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, systematic human rights violations and abuses have continued in Eritrea, including enforced disappearance, decades-long arbitrary detention and the persecution of political opponents, journalists and religious groups. This year’s report highlights arrests of religious leaders and closure of Muslim religious institutions. These violations and abuses take place against the backdrop of a continued lack of accountability.
Some states have recalled their preference for technical assistance. As OHCHR stated during their closing remarks at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, technical assistance and special procedures for monitoring and reporting are not mutually excluding. Rather, they are mutually re-enforcing.
Regarding the duration of this mandate, the core group remains open to assessing its continued need. Historically, mandates have expired in the past, because countries concerned have engaged with the established mechanisms, taken concrete steps forward and implemented reforms to improve the human rights situation of their population.
To date, this has not been the case with Eritrea, therefore the mandate of the Special Rapporteur remains necessary. This work is essential for monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, as well as for advancing accountability when no domestic avenues for justice or redress exist.
Mr. President,
Over the next year, we encourage Eritrea to consider taking up the genuine offers for constructive cooperation by the Special Rapporteur and the OHCHR to improve all aspects of human rights in the country. We also hope to continue strengthening our bilateral dialogue with Eritrea to address human rights and other areas of mutual interest.
We thank all delegations for their cooperation on this text and hope that this resolution can be adopted by consensus.
I thank you.