Ávarp í umræðu um Erítreu

Davíð Logi Sigurðsson, deildarstjóri mannréttindamála í utanríkisráðuneytinu, flutti í dag ávarp í umræðum um mannréttindaástand í Erítreu með þátttöku Danielu Kravetz, sérstökum skýrslugjafa mannréttindaráðsins í málefnum Erítreu. 

Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea

11 March 2018

Statement by Iceland

Mr. President,

Iceland thanks the Special Rapporteur for her first oral update.

While we welcome the peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, we remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Eritrea. Restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and of religion remain, and arbitrary detention without charge or trial continue to be the norm for thousands of prisoners of conscience. The indefinite military national service is still imposed, and Eritreans continue to flee the country in large numbers.

For progress to be made, human rights must be front and center. Comprehensive reforms at the domestic level are urgently needed in order to move towards a free, just and democratic society. Hence, the 1997 Constitution and the rights that it enshrines, including allowing independent political parties and non-government organizations to function freely, must be fully implemented.

Moreover, cooperation with the international community is essential to improving the lives of Eritreans and we urge Eritrea to allow UN experts access to the country. This includes cooperation with Special Procedures mandate holders - those with thematic mandates and those with country-specific mandates. We also encourage Eritrea to consider the establishment of an OHCHR office in the country.

In conclusion, we would like to ask the Special Rapporteur if the peace agreement with Ethiopia has had an impact on the human rights situation in Eritrea?

I thank you.