UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea begins operations
UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea begins operations GENEVA (20 November 2014) – The Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate human rights violations in Eritrea has begun its operations with an initial
UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea begins operations
GENEVA (20 November 2014) – The Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate human rights violations in Eritrea has begun its operations with an initial meeting in Geneva.
The United Nations Human Rights Council established the Commission of Inquiry in June 2014 for a period of one year to “investigate all alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea” as outlined in the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, whose mandate was created by the Human Rights Council in June 2012.
“Our key aim is to help provide Eritrea with the means to improve the human rights of its population,” said the Commission Chairperson, Mr Mike Smith. “Our work is guided by respect and care for the Eritrean people and their proud history, as well as international human rights standards.”
Mr Smith, Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University in New South Wales, Australia, and former Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, is working with Ms Sheila B. Keetharuth, who is the current Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, and Mr Victor Dankwa, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana and former member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.*
The Commissioners have come together for the first time in Geneva this week, and are holding key meetings with a number of diplomatic missions, including Eritrea, UN agencies, scholars and civil society organisations. They have also been discussing the strategy, methodology and investigative approach they will employ during their mandate.
“We have a clear mandate from the Human Rights Council. The Council has expressed its strong condemnation of the ‘continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms committed by the Eritrean authorities’” said Mr Dankwa.
Ms Keetharuth stated “We are committed to reach out to the people of Eritrea to understand the impact of the current situation on the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. In particular, we are keen to look at the reasons why Eritreans, including unaccompanied minors, are fleeing the country in their thousands”.
The Commissioners said that they wish for the full cooperation of the Government of Eritrea and to this end have met their representative in Geneva and have asked for full access to the country. “We are hoping that this first meeting in Geneva augurs well for future co-operation with Eritrean authorities,” noted Mr Smith.
The Commission of Inquiry, supported by a team of experienced human rights officers, is publishing a call for submissions to encourage interested individuals, groups and organisations to share information with the Commissioners.
The Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea was established by Human Rights Council resolution 26/24 to investigate a variety of alleged violations, including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and incommunicado detention, torture, restrictions to civil liberties, human trafficking, discrimination against women and sexual and gender-based violence, violations of child rights, lack of rule of law, and precarious living conditions.
The Commissioners will undertake a first official visit to Switzerland and Italy from 27 November to 4 December 2014 to collect first-hand information on the human rights situation in Eritrea from Eritrean refugees, migrants and other members of the diaspora, as well as other relevant sources.
The Commissioners are holding their first press briefing on Thursday, 20 November, at 10.00 a.m. in the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
ENDS
*Biographies of Commission of Inquiry members:
Mr Mike Smith (Australia) –Adjunct Professor in the Department of Policing, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism at Macquarie University in New South Wales, Australia. From November 2007 until July 2013, he was an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York and Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. Prior to that, he was Australia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. In 2004, he was chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ms Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius) – was appointed in October 2012 as the first Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. Until June 2012, Ms Keetharuth was the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), a pan-African NGO based in Banjul, The Gambia. A lawyer from Mauritius, Ms Keetharuth has extensive experience in research, advocacy, litigation and training in Africa.
Mr Dankwa (Ghana) – is Associate Professor at the University of Ghana and chairs the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee of Ghana. He was a Member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 1993-2005 serving as its Vice-Chair, Chair and as the First Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Detention Centres in Africa (1996-2000). He was Senior Member of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana (1972-2005), and a Senior Member at the Department of International Law, University of Limburg, The Netherlands (1985-1987).
UN Human Rights, country page – Eritrea: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/ERIndex.aspx
For more information about the Commission, please contact: coieritrea@ohchr.org or write to:
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea
OHCHR
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva
Switzerland
Tewolde November 24, 2014
What I think is better late than never. The violation of hman right by this regime started way back to 1969. This organization has been ” one man show” from its inception as an organization to fight and liberate Eritrea. Erittrea earned its independence paying a dear price. Now, it is left to one man so called self proclaimed president and few collaborators. Eritrea is now a nation with out population. The internationa community and the human right watch have the responsibility and obligation to save the people and the country from total liquidation and ruin. This is the fate Eritrea and its people are facing.
Abraham Hanibal November 24, 2014
I hope this commission of investigation would collect the necessary evidence in order to indict dictator Isayas and his collaborators to the International Court of Justice.
Justice has to be done to the suffering Eritrean People! Enough is enough!
tewelde November 25, 2014
hi hi brothers is there no any solution apart from this world.we need to look somewhere for help.i don’t think this dilemma that has grasped us can be solved with mere human capability.we have been degenerated to chaos and confusion long ago.the only thing that is different is that now we have come to awareness at least a problem exists. But the only means we can change is by changing our selves.we need to come out of the world to solve the problem of the world.We eritreans need to come out of eritreanism and lets act on universal human diginity.
Biniam November 25, 2014
This only puts a little extra pressure on the junta regime. Nothing more. What if the commission is allowed into Eritrea and given access to anything they want and they write a 500 page report and then let’s assume IA and his criminal regime admit to all accusations. Let’s then assume then vow to stop violating human rights and let’s even assume they commit to it. Then what? They go free? No no no no. This investigation is ok because it applies more pressure on PFDJ and their criminal agents but anything short of COMPLETELY OVERTHROWING THE WHOLE PFDJ SYSTEM will not bring any justice to the long suffering Eritreans. The commission can do what they like and we should cooperate with them but do not be hopeful that it will do much for us rather than further taint the regime’s image. It is upto us Eritreans to completely week out this regime and start fresh.
Zeray November 25, 2014
It is a great start. However, if they want the full picture they need to include an Eritrean in their committee. Activists like Elsa Chirum or Dr. Berhane Asmelash and others who have tirelessly stood for the plight of Eritreans, and who can give full and objective information about the human right abuse in Eritrea. The e-mail address is there on this report. Let us all write to the council to consider including these people as they try to investigate.
Here is a sample letter that you can modify and send:
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea
OHCHR
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva
Switzerland
Your excellency,
As an Eritrean I would like to thank you for taking the initiative to investigate the human rights condition in Eritrea.
I understand to find an objective information about the conditions in Eritrea can be a difficult task due to the government’s stance on justifying every thing and blaming every thing on foreign intervention etc… To help you filter the information and get the reality in Eritrea I suggest you include Eritrean exiles or activities who have first hand information who are daily working with vicitims on the matter. People like Dr. Bereket Habteselassie, Ms Elsa Chirum (activist) or Dr. Berhane Asmelash etc.. can be of a benefit to include them on one of your committee. The point I am trying to make is please include Eritreans (perhaps who were victims themselves) in you committee.
Thank you and I hope through such efforts you bring relief and positive changes in the lives of Eritreans.
Signed
Stefanos Temolso November 25, 2014
What is there to investigate unless it is to give the inquiry a legal base. The Eritrean people have been oppressed since independence, and this became worse since 2001. The world knows very well that the Eritrean people are in a very dire situation. Even PFDJ knows that it is oppressing its own people. I hope the commission will succeed in revealing the secrets of the Mafia regime to the world public.
ogbai November 25, 2014
We the people of Eritrea we must do more to fix our problems. Everything is in our side for the opposition part, but we refused to admit our mistakes. Even though that some of our people unfortunately, blindly supporting the dictatorial system with no any good reason. And the rest of us in the opposition camp or stage refused to function well as needed to be, that refused to reconcile to each other as well. We became barking dogs from every corner. If we don’t change with our way of facing the main enemy the dictator and keep pointing fingers at each other that we are helping the One Man system to stay in power as long as he lives. The choice is ours not any body else. We need to work hard and to do more visible and achievable things. Other wise we barked enough. And many brothers and sisters are crying from the jailing cells of the Dictator waiting for our help. Lets stop saying ‘why I worry if I am in comfort zone in the West. That is a big sin to say the least’ This is a big crime that siding with the cruel system of Issias. The souls that lost in the sea, the the part of the body’s of the Sinai desert,and even the living souls and body. Lives of the living with so many shortages of the daily need,and with the lack of freedom of all sorts in side our country.They are calling us to help them. Ignoring those calls that it is about a morale issue and value. Lets thing about it, Lets say if I were them in their place. Please picture that and pause for a moment. Ask your self wouldn’t you looking for help? They are our brothers and sisters and their contribution in our struggle were of high value. Then it is like you are ignoring your self your pain to swallow. The sad side of it is only to give a chance to the one unbearable Dictator. It is for the sake of one man system to stay in power to bring more damage and to prolong his time at the cost of others. Some one may argue for the sake of an argument by saying his the head of state, and saying he is doing a good job. I will say if there is any good I will take it, no problem. But what’s wrong to challenge for all the bad things comes with it, because of his egos and my way or the HWY ‘ the high way like the only man in the whole world. You see Our struggle for justice and freedom were as its slogan it was the for the MASS ‘AWATE NIHAFASH’ Now what had happened for that all promise and lips slogan. I wonder if you could sort it out the rest. The Mass is calling us to to take the power to its owner that is THE MASS. Does any one think is it hard to do this call. I am sure we all agree on this, even by the supporters of the system. Then the only things blocking us are> REACTION,OPPORTUNISTS, IGNORANCE and so many lies of the mouse piece of dictator to fool those who are already fool.’zbereQe xehayna Znegesse Nugusna’ etc… few to mention. We have to ask ourselves Am I in those classes and there are another group ‘WHY I CARE’ Sorts, and the last once those who live in fear no confidence in themselves. Help me here the rest with your wisdom that only to find ways to save our people and country and only to bring peace and security in by all means to get started again to bright future of our Eritrean. First peace within our selves and with our neighbors and the rest of the world above all with our AlMighty God Allah! people are calling us to do some thing good, but not to live in lie and cover ups for the crazy ass of the Mad man. Stand up Rise you arms ‘hands’for our lovely people and country in general. Walk up you the people, who you are fooling yourselves siding with evil system. Stop now, and do something good for your people.We all need RULE OF LAW JUSTICE AND FREEDOM OF EVERY SORT. We can do this if we got the WILL. Lets take side with oppressed people from down up not from up down. Those chances might lack us if we don’t act now.
Simerrr2012 November 25, 2014
The subhuman higdef will have sleepless night from now. Justice will be done. We have seen the strong man of Balkan Slobdan Milosovich of ex Yugoslavia , Charles Taylor of Liberia and some Ruwanda genociders face the justice system of international community. Deki Ere it is our turn to see justice at the end reach Eritrea. I’ m 100% sure all top higdef killers including the African hitler Isayas come to The Hague to face justice. My fellow Eritrean , reach all the victims and help them incourage them to come forward and tell their story.
ሓውኻ ኣበይ ኣሎ? November 25, 2014
I don’t think the mafia regime will allow the committee to visit Eritrea for investigation, because the first thing they will do is to ask the regime to visit ‘Eira-‘Eiro and to meet the imprisoned G-15 and the Journalists.
Russom November 25, 2014
I appreciate for the efforts of the commission of inquaery to investigate the human rights violation, allthough it is thei duty, that can contribute to bring justice to the people of Eritrea by bringing the culptors of all the injustices, human right violatons and miseries that was done and is doing on the Eritrean people, which has payed a lot of sucrifice to liberate the country. I don’t expect this brutal regime wil back down and cooperate with commission of inquaery; a guilty persone is not ready to allow an inquery on his guilt. The only way that the commission kan work with on the inquaery is by contacting the victims of the regime in the diaspora.the priory work of the regime is to divide and rule the Eritrean people inorder to stay in power even at the cost and destuction of ht country.In every gatherings to its supporters(which are shrinking from time to time)in the diaspora,its diplomats speak var from realy about the country( full of propaganda and lies);and they always say beware of our enemies,which everybody that opposes them. I hope and wait for the day when Issayas and his kliks will appear on the court of justice in the Hague for all the crimes they committed on the people of Eritrea.