40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda Item 4: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea
Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
Speaker: Claire Denman
Thank you Mr President,
CSW welcomes the improved relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, but is intrigued that, in the immediate post-rapprochement period, Eritrea’s Catholic bishops could not attend a Plenary Assembly in Ethiopia because exit visas were not approved.
We encourage Eritrea to emulate Ethiopia and initiate reforms, commencing demobilisation of the army, releasing prisoners of conscience, and facilitating rights and freedoms for all citizens, including liberty of movement.
In its submission to the HRC prior to Eritrea’s third Universal Periodic Review, the government claimed “no citizen is imprisoned on account of beliefs.” However, CSW has confirmed the detention of 345 church officials, including six leaders held for over a decade, with detained laity estimated to number over 800.
CSW is also concerned by the deaths in detention of Haji Ibrahim Younus in January 2019, and of Haji Musa Mohammed Nur, Habtemichael Tesfamariam and Habtemichael Mekonen in 2018. Their deaths are illustrative of a continuing pattern of harsh arbitrary detention and ongoing violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.
We call for the immediate release of all those detained because of their religious beliefs.
As a newly-elected member of the HRC, Eritrea must be encouraged to respect fundamental rights and freedoms for all citizens; to end enforced disappearance and other gross violations, and to cooperate fully with UN mechanisms charged with the promotion and protection of human rights. Any state that does not fulfil its responsibilities with regard to advancing human rights both at home and abroad ought to lose the privilege of a Council seat.
Eritrean officials and security personnel are accused of committing crimes against humanity since 1991. We therefore call for renewed international efforts towards the creation of judicial mechanisms to hold identified perpetrators accountable.
Thank you.