HRC55: Oral statement during enhanced interactive dialogue on Eritrea

Item 2:EnhancedInteractive Dialogue on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update, and Ms Petros Solomon for her poignant testimony.

Sadly, severe violations and abuses continue unabated eight years after a Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry found atrocity crimes were underway in Eritrea.

Regarding freedom of religion or belief, cyclical arbitrary arrests, detentions and releases of members of the Christian community also continue.

On 20 January over 30 evangelical Christians were arrested following a raid on a child’s birthday party. Non-evangelical attendees were permitted to leave; evangelical men were detained in Asmara’s 6^th Police Station, and the women were told to report there on 22 January, when they too were detained, along with children who were with them.

CSW was informed such raids increasingly follow tip-offs from neighbours.

Around 400 Christians are currently imprisoned in Eritrea, including 220 Evangelicals and at least 150 Orthodox adherents. Thirty-six Jehovah’s Witnesses are also detained.

Transnational violations persist. Eritrean forces still occupy part of Ethiopia’s Tigray region in violation of the Pretoria Agreement, where they are implicated in abductions and largescale looting of livestock.

Meanwhile, Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Ethiopia remain vulnerable to arbitrary detention, refoulement, and increasingly, abduction for ransom.

We therefore reiterate our call for Eritrea to be held accountable for historic and continuing international crimes committed at home and abroad, and for Council seats to be reserved for nations that cooperate with every mechanism.

Thank you.