HRC44: Oral statement during ID with Special Rapporteur on Eritrea

Agenda Item 2: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Madame President,

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Eritrea for her important work.

Eritrea is entering its second year as a member of the Council; however its human rights crisis remains acute and requires continued scrutiny.

Thousands of individuals remain detained on account of their religion or belief, including Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Muslims.

Conditions of detention are inhumane and life-threatening, and many of those detained have experienced torture or other forms of ill-treatment.

Among those currently imprisoned is Abune Antonios, the legitimate patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.

The nonagenarian Patriarch has been under house arrest since January 2007, after being removed from office in 2006 in violation of canon law, and effectively excommunicated in a process which lacked legitimacy. He is severely diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure worsened by privations.

Concern for the wellbeing of detainees is increased by the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Eritrea earlier claimed to have defeated the virus; however, new cases have been confirmed, and the earlier closure of Catholic health facilities has deprived the poorest of basic care. The pandemic poses a serious risk to life to those detained in unsatisfactory and inhumane conditions.

CSW calls on Eritrea to release all prisoners of conscience, including those detained on account of their religion or belief.

We also urge the Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.

Given the lack of progress towards meeting the five human rights benchmarks articulated in the Special Rapporteur’s 2019 report, the mandate remains essential.

Thank you