PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 57 – UPR Adoption of Eritrea [October 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2024.

UK Statement for the Universal Periodic Review Adoption of Eritrea as delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Mr President,

We thank Eritrea for engaging with the UPR process and we note the recommendations that the government has accepted.

We are pleased to see that these include a number of recommendations relating to healthcare and education.

We would like to very much encourage the government of Eritrea to engage with the international community to support implementation, noting the challenges faced by the government in previous cycles.

We do however worry that the spread of accepted recommendations suggests a lack of commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

We are disappointed that our recommendations to implement the 1997 constitution and also to allow access for the Special Rapporteur were not accepted.

We reiterate our belief that these recommendations would support the promotion and protection of all human rights for all Eritrean citizens. Furthermore, cooperation with HRC mandate holders are especially pertinent given that Eritrea remains a member of the Human Rights Council.

Thank you.