HRC58 - NB8 statement - EID on Human Rights in Eritrea
Human Rights Council - 58th Session
Item 2: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights in Eritrea
Statement by Latvia on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic States
27 February 2025
Thank you, Mr. President!
The Nordic-Baltic countries thank the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work and the oral report.
We welcome Eritrea’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and steps taken in the field of social rights. We also welcome the reduction in the occurrence of female genital mutilation and child marriages and encourage Eritrea to further strengthen measures to prevent such practices, as recommended by the UN Child Rights Committee.
However, the Nordic-Baltic countries remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Eritrea.
Fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of opinion, association, religion and expression, of the people of Eritrea are continuously repressed. The widespread and systematic repression of dissent, subjecting government critics to enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions, remain of grave concern.
We reiterate our call on the Eritrean authorities to adhere to the rule of law and full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with its international obligations.
In line with OHCHR recommendations we call on the Government of Eritrea to withdraw any remaining Eritrean forces from the Tigray region of Ethiopia and investigate all alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the forces.
We urge the Eritrean authorities to fully co-operate with international human rights mechanisms, including OHCHR, and to take immediate action to address the pressing human rights issues in the country.
Mr. Special Rapporteur, what further steps could be taken on the international level to ensure accountability of perpetrators of human rights violations?
I thank you!
