RES/21/1 Situation of human rights in Eritrea

GE.12- 17443

Human Rights Council Twenty-first session

Agenda item 5

Human rights bodies and mechanisms

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council **

21/1.

Situation of human rights in Eritrea

The Human Rights Council,

Having considered the material relating to the situation of human rights in Eritrea,

brought under the complaint procedure established in accordance with the annex to Human

Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, alleging widespread and systematic human

rights violations in Eritrea, in particular regarding cases of arbitrary arrest and detention,

torture, summary executions, violence against women, forced labour, forced conscription

and restrictions on the liberty of movement and the rights to freedom of expression,

peaceful assembly and of thought, conscience and religion,

Noting the efforts of the Government of Eritrea to cooperate with the Human Rights

Council,

Regretting the inadequate and incomplete information provided in written form and

orally during the closed meeting, held on 17 September 2012, by the representative of the

Government of Eritrea concerning the questions raised in the communications,

Considering that the allegations made in the submitted complaints are a cause for

grave concern to the extent that they may reveal a consistent pattern of gross and reliably

attested violations of human rights,

Welcoming the establishment of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation

of human rights in Eritrea by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 20/20 of 6 July

2012,

1. Decides, in accordance with paragraph 109 (d) of the annex to Human Rights

Council resolution 5/1, to discontinue reviewing the matter under the confidential

complaint procedure in order to take up public consideration of the same in the context of

the implementation of Council resolution 20/20;

*

Reissued for technical reasons on 12 October 2012. **

The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-first session (A/HRC/21/2), chap. I.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/21/1*

2. Also decides that the documentation considered by the Human Rights

Council under its complaint procedure relating to the situation of human rights in Eritrea

should no longer be considered confidential, with the exception of the names or any other

identifying information of specific individuals who have not consented, and should

therefore be transmitted to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in

Eritrea;

3. Invites the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea to

investigate further the allegations contained in the submitted complaints and the

circumstances of the individuals mentioned in the submitted communications whose names

may be disclosed consistent with provisions of paragraph 2 above, and to report thereon to

the Human Rights Council at its twenty-third session and in accordance with its programme

of work;

4. Urges the Government of Eritrea to cooperate fully with the Special

Rapporteur, in particular to permit access to visit all parts of the country and to provide the

information necessary for the fulfilment of the mandate, as reflected in Human Rights

Council resolution 20/20;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to communicate the present resolution to the

Government of Eritrea;

6. Decides to make public the present resolution;

7. Also decides to remain seized of the matter under agenda item 4.

35th (closed) meeting

26 September2012

[Adopted without a vote.]