Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Eritrea: HRW raises concern as forced conscription continues

(16.03.2019) Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised concern that Eritrea’s controversial policy of forced conscription continues, despite a peace deal signed with neighbouring Ethiopia last year.

Last year’s peace deal brought an end to the “state of war” between the two countries, prompting hope that Eritrea would bring an end to its forced conscription programme, which has been labelled as “enslavement” by various rights groups. However, HRW says no meaningful changes have been made to the policy since the peace deal was signed last year.

The peace deal with Ethiopia has not changed Afwerki’s Eritrea

If anything, it has actually strengthened his regime.

(12.10.2018) After signing an historic peace deal with Ethiopia, and receiving unprecedented levels of positive media coverage, Eritrea applied for a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). As a member of the UNHRC, Eritrea will have the right to vote on UN's human rights resolutions, including the ones that are about its own abuses, for a period of three years. So, as Eritrea prepares to take its place in a top human rights body, let me provide some insight into what the country really looks like today, despite high hopes and optimistic media reports about imminent political changes.

Eritrea - A Country Under the Sway of a Dictatorship

Description and Content of the Booklet

(05.07.2018) This booklet is based in large part on the contributions of the conference “Eritrea and the Ongoing Refugee Crisis”, which took place in Brussels on 19 October 2017.

Some of the speeches were written and edited by the editors. Other contributions were provided by the speakers themselves. The editors have supplemented this with up-to-date information and articles in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation in Eritrea, the situation of Eritrean refugees and initiatives and activities.

The conference was organized by the Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights, Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA), PRO ASYL e.V., Connection e.V., War Resisters’ International and the Eritrean Law Society.

Download of the pdf-file here.

Eritrea: Rights Abuses Continue Unabated

(12.03.2018) Repeated Human Rights Council resolutions have condemned “in the strongest terms” the “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations” by the Eritrean government.  The Council has condemned violations including arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, religious oppression, denials of the rights of free expression and peaceful assembly.  The Council has also expressed grave concern over the unlimited conscription of Eritrea’s citizens and the use of conscripts in forced labor.