2 March, 2020
DefendDefenders’ oral statements at HRC43

This statement was first published on DefendDefenders’ website

Oral statements delivered by DefendDefenders at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC43, 24 February-20 March 2020)

Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the oral update by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea (26 February 2020)

Madam President, Madam Special Rapporteur,

DefendDefenders thanks you for your update. In 2019, the Council decided to maintain a high level of scrutiny of the human rights situation in Eritrea and extended your mandate. It made clear that mem­ber­ship in the Council was not a shield from scrutiny.

The lack of tangible domestic steps to address the gross, wide­spread, systematic, and systemic human rights violations committed in the country calls for continued attention. The fact that HRC resolution 41/1 was adopted under item 2 means that Eritrea is discussed early at this session. More significantly, it means that a hand was extended to the country’s authorities.

The Govern­ment should seize this hand and fulfil its membership obligations by coopera­ting with special procedure man­date-holders. The “bench­­marks for progress” you identified last year form a basis for such en­gagement.

In 2018, Eritrea was reviewed by the African Com­mis­sion on Human and Peoples’ Rights after the Government submitted its first-ever report, encompassing eight periodic reports (1999-2016). The Commission formulated 72 recommendations covering a range of serious human rights issues. Meaningful reforms remain elusive, but we welcome the fact that a human rights dialogue took place – and again recently with the CEDAW Committee.

It is never too late to change course. Eritrea should do so without waiting for the Council’s 44^th session.

Thank you for your attention.