Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on oral update by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President.

CSW welcomes this interactive dialogue and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his oral update.

We remain extremely concerned by ongoing egregious human rights violations in Eritrea, including of the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Notable is the case of Abune Antonios, the legitimate patriarch of the Orthodox Church who died on 9 February 2022, after 15 years of arbitrary detention following his removal from office in violation of canon law for objecting to repeated government interference in ecclesiastical affairs. He prioritised his calling over the politicisation of the Church by a regime deemed to have committed crimes against humanity since 1991, including the crime of persecution.

CSW is deeply saddened by his passing. We urge the international community to honour Patriarch Antonios’ courageous stand for freedom of religion or belief by regalvanising efforts to secure the release of three Orthodox priests for whom he advocated, and of thousands of others detained arbitrarily and indefinitely on account of conscience, religion or belief. 

In closing, CSW remains concerned by Eritrea’s negligence throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the only country in the African Union to refuse vaccinations, and recent reports indicate a steady rise in infections and deaths. The pandemic has also heightened concerns for the wellbeing of tens of thousands who are detained in life-threatening conditions.

We urge Eritrea to respect the right to health of its citizens, and to offset the spread of Covid-19 by releasing prisoners of conscience, low-risk offenders and vulnerable individuals.

Thank you.