Joint Nordic-Baltic Statement on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

Human Rights Council

49th session

Interactive Dialogue on the Oral Update by the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea

Statement by Iceland on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic Countries (NB8)

4 March 2022

Mr President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.

We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his update.

We remain highly concerned about persistent human rights violations and abuses in Eritrea, including arbitrary detention, imprisonment of refugees and asylum seekers, indefinite national service, and restrictions on the rights to freedoms of expression and religion or belief.

We are deeply concerned about the reported human rights violations and abuses committed by Eritrean Defence Forces on Ethiopian territory and call for their immediate and unconditional departure from Ethiopia. We urge the Government of Eritrea to undertake investigations meeting international standards and to hold those responsible to account.

The inhumane prison conditions exacerbated by COVID-19 and reports of increased pervasive controls by the Eritrean authorities on its population are of great concern. We call on the Government to fully comply with its international obligations and to ensure respect for all human rights.

Finally, we reiterate our call to the Government to strengthen its engagement with the Council’s mechanisms, including by granting the Special Rapporteur full and unhindered access to the country.

How can the international community support efforts to improve the human rights situation in the country?