Eritrea and the UN Human Rights Council

That this House notes the publication on 17 May 2023 of an open letter, signed by 35 non-governmental and civil society organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Christian Solidarity Worldwide, addressed to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in advance of the Council’s 53rd session expected to take place between 19 June and 14 July 2023, which calls for the Council to develop and adopt a resolution that extends the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea for one year, and that spells out and condemns ongoing human rights violations committed by Eritrean authorities; further notes that the letter identifies such violations as including arbitrary arrests and detentions, including incommunicado detention of journalists and other dissenting voices, violations of the rights to a fair trial, access to justice and due process, enforced disappearances, involuntary conscription into the country’s national service system, restrictions on the media and media workers, severe restrictions on civic space, including the rights to freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement and non-discrimination, widespread impunity for past and ongoing human rights violations, and the Government of Eritrea’s refusal to engage in a serious dialogue with the international community, including by cooperating with the Council, despite its election for a second term as a Council Member; and calls on the Government’s delegation to the Council to support the development and adoption of any such resolution.