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Universal Periodic Review 32: Eritrea

The UK welcomed Eritrea’s engagement with the UPR, but urged cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and to reform national service.

• From: UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)
• Published: 28 January 2019

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Thank you Mr President,

The UK welcomes Eritrea’s engagement with the UPR process, and urges cooperation with the Special Rapporteur and with OHCHR.

We remain concerned by the human rights situation. We urge Eritrea to reform national service, especially given political progress in the region and the reduced threat to national security. We note that the Government states “no citizen is imprisoned on account of beliefs,” and would welcome further assurances on this. We urge the Government to allow the international community to verify the progress claimed in paragraph 85 of their report regarding places of detention.

We recommend:

1. Set out and implement a clear, time-bound plan, as referenced in paragraph 14 of Eritrea’s UPR submission, on reform of National Service, with updates every six months;

2. Ensure due process for all detainees and release those arbitrarily detained for political and religious reasons;

3. Open all places of detention to organisations with expertise in the field, such as the ICRC.

Thank you, Mr President.

Published 28 January 2019