A/HRC/RES/20/20
1.
Strongly condemns:
(a)
The continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and
fundamental freedoms committed by the Eritrean authorities, including cases of arbitrary
and extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, the use of torture, arbitrary and
incommunicado detention without recourse to justice, and detention in inhumane and
degrading conditions;
(b)
The severe restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of
information, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of peaceful
assembly and association, including the detention of journalists, human rights defenders,
political actors, religious leaders and practitioners in Eritrea;
(c)
The forced conscription of citizens for indefinite periods of national service,
which could amount to forced labour, the alleged coercion of minors into the military and
the mining industry, as well as the intimidation and detention of family members of those
suspected of evading national service in Eritrea;
(d)
The shoot-to-kill practice employed on the borders of Eritrea to stop Eritrean
citizens seeking to flee their country;
(e)
Any violation by the Government of Eritrea of its international human rights
obligations in connection with the collection of taxes outside Eritrea from its nationals;
(f)
The lack of cooperation with international and regional human rights
mechanisms by Eritrea;
2.
Calls upon the Government of Eritrea, without delay:
(a)
To end its use of arbitrary detention of its citizens, and to end the use of
torture and inhumane and degrading treatment and punishment;
(b)
To account for and release all political prisoners, including the “G-11”;
(c)
To ensure free and fair access to an independent judicial system for those
detained to improve prison conditions and to allow regular access to prisoners for relatives,
legal advocates, medical care, and other competent and legally authorized authorities and
institutions;
(d)
To put an end to the policy of indefinite military service;
(e)
To allow human rights and humanitarian organizations to operate in Eritrea
without fear or intimidation;
(f)
To respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression and freedom of thought,
conscience and religion or belief, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
(g)
To promote and protect women’s rights, including by taking measures to
combat harmful practices, such as early marriage and female genital mutilation;
(h)
To implement the recommendations accepted during its universal periodic
review and to report on progress made;
(i)
To end “guilt-by-association” policies that target family members of those
who evade national service or seek to flee Eritrea;
(j)
To cooperate fully with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, in accordance with its international human rights obligations, by, inter
alia, allowing access to a mission by the Office as requested by the High Commissioner, the
human rights treaty bodies, all mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and with all
international and regional human rights mechanisms;
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