United Nations Human Rights Council

56^th session

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

20 June 2024

EU statement

Mr President,

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

We welcome some progress made in the sphere of social rights, notably in the areas of health and education. Nevertheless, we remain 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 EU calls on Eritrea to reveal the whereabouts of those disappeared and immediately release those held arbitrarily. 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.

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, but regret that the vast majority of the recommendations of previous cycles remain unimplemented. We call on Eritrea to also engage constructively with the Special Rapporteur and grant him full and unhindered access. We encourage Eritrea to facilitate a visit of the Special Rapporteur or other special procedures 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.

Mr Special Rapporteur, could you elaborate on the human right situation of Eritrean children?

Thank you.