Corporate report

Human Rights Priority Country status report: January to June 2016

Updated 8 February 2017

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

The human rights situation in Eritrea remained of great concern during the first half of 2016.

On 21 June, at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea presented its final report. This stated that there were “reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed by the government of Eritrea”. It cited concerns around arbitrary detention, indefinite national service, freedom of religion and the media, freedom of movement, and failure to implement the constitution.

Following the Commission of Inquiry report the HRC through joint consensus adopted resolution 32/34, which called on Eritrea to take steps to improve the human rights situation in the country. The resolution additionally called on international partners to increase their engagement with Eritrea to work towards improving human rights. The mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights was extended for one year.

At the June HRC we used our increased engagement to make clear the tangible improvements that we want to see in Eritrea’s human rights record, including: amending its national service system; fully implementing its own constitution; and cooperating with international human rights bodies.

The government of Eritrea took some steps to improve its cooperation with the international community on human rights during the period from 1 January to 30 June 2016. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) visited Eritrea early in 2016, following visits in 2015. Resolution 32/34 calls on the government of Eritrea to strengthen its cooperation with the OHCHR and to consider inviting the OHCHR to establish a presence inside the country. However, Eritrea continues to deny the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights access to the country.

On 18 March, Eritrea released four Djiboutian prisoners of war who had been held in custody since the end of the June 2008 war. This was secured with the mediation assistance of Qatar. The UK welcomed their release and offered continued support to Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts to achieve the release of any other Djiboutian prisoners of war being detained by Eritrea. Further steps are needed by Eritrea to improve its international and regional reputation.

Eritrea is one of the main sources of irregular migration to Europe. We have made clear to the government of Eritrea that the poor human rights situation is one of the main drivers of this. Eritrea continues to engage with international partners through the African Union/EU Khartoum Process, which aims to tackle forced migration and human trafficking. The UK, together with EU partners, is discussing with Eritrea how to stem the flow of irregular migration.

Eritrea is a one-party state and there have been no national elections since 1993. The government of Eritrea has yet to implement its constitution (ratified in 1997) although it is used as a basis for legislation. The government have claimed that preparatory work on the drafting of a new constitution is under way.

The UK remains concerned about the system of National Service used in Eritrea. We welcomed the government of Eritrea’s commitment in 2015 to limit National Service to 18 months; however, we have yet to see implementation to back this up.

The UK wants to see better conditions for children in Eritrea, and remains concerned about: a lack of education; limited access to health services; and the prospect of extended National Service. Each of these can act as a driver for migration, pushing minors to undertake dangerous journeys to Europe. Though the government of Eritrea has made some progress, including improving health services and increasing the net national enrolment in education, more needs to be done. Through the Department for International Development, the UK is supporting UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund) programmes in health, as well as water and sanitation, which help improve the lives of children in Eritrea.

Women in Eritrea are well-protected by law but still face challenges due to cultural attitudes and a lack of economic opportunity. The National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) continues their work on improving the social, economic and social rights for women in Eritrea, and is exploring possible projects with government ministries to look at improving gender equality within the government.

We continue to remain concerned about the Eritrean government’s approach to LGB&T rights. Homosexual activity is illegal. Eritrea continues to refuse to develop anti-discrimination legislation which would provide protection for the LGB&T community.

Eritrea continues to be of concern in relation to arbitrary and inhumane detention, religious freedom, freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of movement, and progress in the implementation of a constitution. In relation to freedom of expression, we continue to be concerned about the case of a group of prominent public figures in Eritrea who were arrested after calling for democratic reforms. Bilaterally and through the EU we have called on the Eritrean authorities to release all political prisoners unconditionally.

Although access to satellite media is widespread, Eritrea was bottom of the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index for 2014. Eritrea remains at the lowest rating (7) “not free” in the Freedom House 2016 report on political, civil and press freedom.