Human Rights Council - 29th Regular Session
Interactive Dialogue with Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea
Australian Statement
23 June 2015
Australia thanks the Commission of Inquiry for its report and is deeply disturbed by its findings that the Government of Eritrea is responsible for systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations.
Australia is disappointed to see that the Commission, like the Special Rapporteur before it, has been unable to visit Eritrea to comprehensively fulfil its mandate. This is also disappointing given that Eritrea has accepted recommendations on cooperating with UN Special Procedures.
Australia is deeply concerned by the widespread and systematic human rights violations raised in the Commission’s report including that Eritreans are subject to systems of national service and forced labour that effectively abuse, exploit and enslave them for indefinite periods of time.
We are concerned by the Commission’s finding that alleged violations of human rights in relation to extrajudicial executions, torture (including sexual torture), and forced labour may amount to crimes against humanity. Perpetrators of such crimes must be held to account.
Australia again encourages Eritrea to implement fully the 1997 Constitution and the rights that it shrines, including allowing independent political parties and civil society to function freely.
We would be interested to hear the Commission’s views on mechanisms to address the accountability issues raised in its report.