The UN Human Rights Council rejected Eritrea's bid to discontinue an independent investigation into its human rights abuses. This surprising move by Eritrea aimed to limit scrutiny but failed, with a vote indicating strong opposition. Human Rights Watch emphasized that such actions will not deter international assessments of Eritrea's severe human rights conditions. A 2016 UN report highlighted systemic rights violations potentially amounting to crimes against humanity, including severe abuses linked to national service programs. The resolution to extend the UN special rapporteur's mandate passed easily, reaffirming the international community's commitment to human rights accountability in Eritrea.
Human Rights Watch says Asmara's move was an effort to distract from independent reporting on the country's dire rights record. Eritrea's move to scrap the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on its human rights record was defeated.
Eritrea's motion argued that alleged rights violations were not systemic and blamed capacity constraints common to other developing nations. European states responded with a counter-resolution to extend the mandate for another year.
Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, the UN-appointed special rapporteur, referenced the 2016 UN inquiry that found systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations committed in Eritrea may constitute crimes against humanity.
The 2016 report indicated the government of President Isaias Afwerki had committed heinous crimes since independence, including the enslavement of 400,000 people, linked to a harsh national service programme.
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