EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive dialogue on human rights in Eritrea

Mr President,

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

We welcome progress made in the sphere of social rights, notably in the areas of health and education. Nevertheless, the EU remains highly concerned by the human rights situation in Eritrea, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, inhumane prison conditions, torture, closed civic space and the absence of the rule of law institutions and judicial mechanisms, leading to widespread impunity. The practice of indefinite national service, including the reported conscription of children, and the persistent forms of sexual and gender-based violence also 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 uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief and to guarantee the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and opinion and freedom of peaceful assembly and association, in line with its international human rights obligations. The EU also calls on the Government of Eritrea to ratify all international human rights conventions and to engage or cooperate with African human rights mechanisms. The EU calls on Eritrea to reveal the whereabouts of those disappeared and immediately release those held arbitrarily.

Furthermore, in line with OHCHR recommendations, we call on the Government of Eritrea to complete the full withdrawal of any remaining troops from Ethiopian territory, and to carry out credible, independent investigations into alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed during the war in Northern Ethiopia in order to provide justice to all victims, including Eritreans who had found refuge in Ethiopia.

The EU welcomes Eritrea’s engagement in the latest UPR process, while urging the full implementation of the recommendations of previous cycles. We call on the Government of Eritrea to engage constructively with the Special Rapporteur and grant him full and unhindered access. We encourage the Government of Eritrea to facilitate a visit of the Special Rapporteur or other special procedures mandate holders.

The EU notes that there has been some progress under the Strategic Partnership Cooperation Framework and strongly encourages Eritrea to further implement its partnership with the United Nations. The EU also strongly encourages Eritrea to intensify its dialogue with the OHCHR. The lack of cooperation and the scale of human rights violations are in contrast to Eritrea’s HRC membership, which implies responsibility to uphold the highest human rights standards. The EU reiterates that the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs do not free states from their obligations under international human rights law. The lack of consent of the country concerned with resolutions of the Human Rights Council should not provide it with a warrant to avoid the international scrutiny.

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

Thank you.