Geneva: On behalf of the European Union, a draft resolution titled "Situation of human rights in Eritrea" has been presented, aiming to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for another year. This resolution underscores the EU's commitment to enhancing dialogue with Eritrea, with an emphasis on translating recent developments into tangible outcomes. According to European Union, there have been some positive developments, such as human rights training conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Asmara and the release of certain arbitrarily detained individuals. Nevertheless, systematic human rights violations persist in Eritrea, including enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions targeting political opponents, journalists, and religious communities. The report this year particularly highlights the arrest of religious leaders and the closure of Muslim religious institutions, underscoring a significant lack of accountability. During discussions, some states emphasi zed their preference for technical assistance. The OHCHR, closing the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, stated that technical assistance and special procedures for monitoring and reporting are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. The core group responsible for the resolution remains open to evaluating the mandate's necessity, based on Eritrea's engagement with established mechanisms and reform implementation. Currently, the absence of such engagement from Eritrea necessitates the continuation of the Special Rapporteur's mandate. This initiative is vital for monitoring the human rights scenario and advancing accountability, particularly in the absence of domestic justice or redress avenues. In the upcoming year, there is encouragement for Eritrea to consider constructive cooperation offers from the Special Rapporteur and the OHCHR to enhance human rights. The EU also aims to strengthen bilateral dialogue with Eritrea on human rights and other mutual interests. The cooperation of all delegations on this text is appreciated, with hopes that the resolution will be adopted by consensus.
