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Eritrea: UN expert to investigate pervasive rights abuses as part of ‘historic’ inquiry

29 September 2014 – Amid forced conscription, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to remain “dire,” a United Nations independent expert warned, adding that a new Commission of Inquiry

29 September 2014 – Amid forced conscription, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to remain “dire,” a United Nations independent expert warned, adding that a new Commission of Inquiry would help “pave the way” to accountability.

“The creation of my Special Rapporteur’s mandate has increased international awareness about the large-scale violations of human rights in Eritrea,” said Sheila B. Keetharuth, adding that “concrete steps are urgently needed to address such violations.”

Her comments followed a five-day mission to Italy, where she visited Eritrean refugees and migrants and collected their first-hand accounts.

The widespread abuses allegedly faced by many in the Horn of Africa nation have prompted hundreds of Eritreans to flee their home country in search of asylum in Europe. According to the latest estimates produced by Italian authorities, 32,000 Eritreans were rescued in 2014 as they attempted to traverse the Mediterranean – the majority of all migrants rescued by Italy’s comprehensive Mare Nostrum operation.

“Eritreans are escaping systematic and widespread human rights violations,” Ms. Keetharuth said in a news release, citing indefinite forced conscription, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and inhumane prison conditions, as well as political repression.

Last Friday, the UN Human Rights Council appointed Mike Smith of Australia and Victor Dankwa of Ghana to join Ms. Keetharuth on a Commission of Inquiry to investigate all reports of human rights abuses in Eritrea in what the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has described as a “historic moment” for the thousands of possible victims.

As part of its mandate, the Commission will investigate “the most egregious human rights violations,” including cases of extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention, torture, and lack of freedom of expression and opinion, assembly, association, religious belief and movement.

The Special Rapporteur urged the Government and people of Eritrea, as well as the international community, to cooperate with the Commission’s inquiry.

“I hope the Commission of Inquiry would pave the way to establish accountability for these violations,” said Ms. Keetharuth, “especially in view of the continued non-cooperation of Eritrea with my mandate and other UN mechanisms.”

Independent experts or special rapportUNeurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Source: UN News Wire

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38 COMMENTS
  • hmm October 1, 2014

    wow look at this I am no longer banned…

  • johnny October 1, 2014

    the rope is getting tight each day I do not know where they r going to run .may be to tigray where there anscetor came from.we still have to go after them put the to justice for the sake our martyr did not not die in vein.

  • Simon G. October 1, 2014

    What a waste of resources. They know what is going on in Eritrea, upto the details. Now, they are going to to spend how many years to “pretend” to find out what they already have an answer?
    It seems no one cares about Eritrea. Not HGDF, not the opposition leaders, not the international community. Can’t we be able to see this? Ordinary people are dying left and right and this so called Human right organizations are donating time to the worst dictator on earth – to kill more people.

    The question to Sheila B. Keetharuth and her office is that what is she going to do when she confirms the so called allegations are indeed true. What? What is she going to do? My expectation is – Nothing. Nothing at all.
    What did she do when the dictator ignored her and her office few times? Nothing. This task is BS – to the fullest.

    • weddi kebesa October 2, 2014

      You are right brother Simon ,but I think the moving of this organisation is every time us by order from the superpower .In Weddi Medhin barrad’s case he has begun touching sensitive points from the superpower’s benefits and strategic interests by tying his relationship with Russia in brief he is getting out of their obey circle .

    • Adulis October 2, 2014

      Ab kunat zeyweale beliH….I think she is doing her best but the Boss back home is very clever, well trained killer and strongly irresponsible. When you say they know everything, yes, indeed, they know like all considerate Eritreans. The problem is they need to have concrete evidences in order to lodge law suite against all justice violators to end Eritreans ordeal once and for all.

  • Alem October 1, 2014

    Wedi Berad…they are coming after you! Watch out…..you will stand trial like Charles Taylor of Liberia.

  • Alem October 1, 2014

    UN experts….you are dealing with the most repressive regime and brutal dictator that will do anything to stay alive. Lie is the Trademark of Eritrean Dictator. Please watch out and don’t persuade what you see on EriTV.

    If you see the 300 plus underground jails and the prisoners…that will be enough to put the dictator in death chamber!

    • Fikre October 2, 2014

      those who think iseyas will be remotely moved by the formation of the enquiry commission need a reality check. to rejoice about the possibility of indicting him sometime in the future (that is when his regime collapses) while he is in the meantime killing and destroying as much as he can makes one wonder whether this is really about accountability or something else. don’t forget guys, no one could and can force Omer Al-Beshir of Sudan in front of the tribunal court or anywhere else for that matter. even if iseyas is found guilty of all the human right abuses the UN won’t be able to raise a finger at him as long as he is in power. what is important to us should be to save our people and our country as soon as possible not to wait for Sheila Keetharuth to drag iseyas somewhere God knows when.

  • Danny October 1, 2014

    Alem well written bro . I totally agree with you

  • Massawa October 1, 2014

    There is a holocaust in the making in Eritrea. Tens of thousands of prisoners are put in conditions that kill them systematically.
    The victims are buried in unmarked graves. Their families are not informed. The supporters of the regime are running out of excuses to justify the crimes committed in the name of national defense. While Eritreans in diaspora are too divided along regional/ethnic and confessional lines, and failed to put humanity first. They cry only for their victims, family members ..etc. till it comes to them, remain indifferent.

  • SHake October 1, 2014

    One thing is for sure, change is coming the mother land.So lets not make anther mistake

  • hagos October 2, 2014

    we eritreans have a responsiblity to keep our rights even if un interfer the soltion is from us as the cauntry is ours no baday will fil paining so came up for stragle for our right

    • meron October 2, 2014

      we are responsible for our fate. UN is not gonna remove wedi medhin berad from power just so that Eritreans can leave in peace. this issue with the UN is actually getting unnecessary attention which means we are not willing to take necessary action.

  • Tamrat Tamrat October 2, 2014

    No need for more discussion on eri escaping the scavenger. Instead focus on the possibility Eritrea has if pfdj and the president dissapear tonight.

    1) Eritreans are good in business.
    2) There thousands eri-milionars who dont want to throw their Money for the hgdef loosers but eager to invest to a Law abbiding government. If eritreans are investing in Ethiopia (hgdef number one enemy country), why not in Eritrea. This is the Perfect example how hgdef is.

    3) Ethiopia invests too much to attract investors while Eritrea needs only to have a Law abbiding government. Other wise investor will flood Eritrea because the potential is enourmous.

    4) The eonomic policy of pfdj seamed too dynamic and full of potential at the beginning but after 23 years it has gone no where. It has stopped. It can not grow. Period. From now on, it has to dpend onl oly eri-remittance.

    6) Somalia started two years ago its renaicance and now regardless the mess the 20 years has created, the alshabab sucidal attack and the clan chaos Somalia specially Moqdisho is under Heavy construciton. If the war thorn Somalia makes it then Eritrea can do it also.

    So Assenaians reject hgdef. Every minutte hgdef is controlling Eritrea, Eritrea is loosing a million NKF if not dollar.

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