UN human rights expert meets with Eritrean refugees and
migrants in Belgium
GENEVA (9 March 2015) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth,
today started an official visit to Belgium (9-11 March) to collect first-hand
information from Eritrean refugees and migrants on the human rights situation
in Eritrea.
Since 2014, Ms. Keetharuth has carried out similar
information-gathering missions to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Malta and
Tunisia.
“Due to lack of access to Eritrea,” she said, “I have been
engaging with Eritrean refugees and migrants outside of their home country, and
all others concerned by human rights in Eritrea, including those who consider
themselves to be victims of alleged human rights violations, human rights
defenders and other civil society actors.”
The human rights expert has made several official requests
to visit Eritrea since her appointment in November 2012, which have so far not
been granted. She has repeatedly urged the Eritrean authorities to cooperate
with her mandate in order to address the country’s human rights challenges.
During her mission, Ms. Keetharuth will interview Eritrean
refugees and migrants about the situation of human rights in Eritrea to
corroborate allegations of widespread and systematic violations of human rights
in Eritrea contained in reports she has received from different sources.
Ms. Keetharuth expressed her appreciation that Belgium has
agreed to provide her with access to interview the Eritrean refugees and
migrants residing in the country.
The result of her findings, which will be strictly limited
to the situation inside Eritrea, will be reflected in her third report to the
Human Rights Council in June 2015.
ENDS
Sheila B. Keetharuth was appointed as the Special Rapporteur
on the human rights situation in Eritrea during the 21st Session of the UN
Human Rights Council in September 2012.
She took her functions on 1 November 2012. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent
from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. A lawyer from Mauritius, she has extensive experience
in monitoring and documenting human rights violations, advocacy, training and
litigation in human rights in Africa. Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/ER/Pages/SREritrea.aspx
Check the Special Rapporteur’s latest report to the UN Human
Rights Council (A/HRC/26/L.6): http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=201
UN Human Rights, country page – Eritrea:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/ERIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests please contact Ms.
Abigail Noko (+41 22 928 9446 / anoko@ohchr.org) or write to sr-eritrea@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917
9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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