The UN Human Rights Council today mandated a Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea. The inquiry which will last for the period of one year will investigate all alleged violations of human rights in the country.
Calling on Eritrea to cooperate with the inquiry, in statement the Council condemned "the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms committed by the Eritrean authorities, including arbitrary and extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, and the widespread use of torture and other cruel or inhuman treatment; strongly condemns severe restrictions on freedom of opinion, expression, religion and peaceful assembly, forced conscriptions of citizens for indefinite periods of national services, and reported forced military conscription of children."
The draft resolution, tabled by Somalia, was adopted without a vote. Opposing country-specific resolutions, China said it would not join the consensus in favour of the resolution. Pakistan and Russia also objected to country specific resolutions, whilst Venezuela said it "rejected the selectivity and double standards towards various countries".
Calling on Eritrea to cooperate with the inquiry, in statement the Council condemned "the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms committed by the Eritrean authorities, including arbitrary and extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, and the widespread use of torture and other cruel or inhuman treatment; strongly condemns severe restrictions on freedom of opinion, expression, religion and peaceful assembly, forced conscriptions of citizens for indefinite periods of national services, and reported forced military conscription of children."
The draft resolution, tabled by Somalia, was adopted without a vote. Opposing country-specific resolutions, China said it would not join the consensus in favour of the resolution. Pakistan and Russia also objected to country specific resolutions, whilst Venezuela said it "rejected the selectivity and double standards towards various countries".