The Commission of Inquiry’s (CoI) much anticipated report on human rights in Eritrea is expected to be provided to the Human Rights Council (HRC), which convenes in Geneva from June 13 to July 1st.
As they did last year, the exiled Eritrean civil society–community-based organizations, youth and women groups, professional associations–and opposition parties are conducting a demonstration in Geneva on June 23. As part of its campaign, the movement opposed to the Government of President Isaias Afwerki has presented this promotional video:
https://youtu.be/44dQ3_-2ZDc
Meanwhile, as part of its own campaign, the Government of Eritrea and its Diaspora supporters are asking Eritrea-based Ethiopian opposition groups to sign a petition rejecting the findings of the CoIE.
Here’s its video (in Amharic)
Last year, the Commission of Inquiry found that “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Government.” The report went on to say that although it thinks that “some of these violations may constitute crimes against humanity”, it did not have a mandate to make that determination.
In response, the Human Rights Council “strongly condemned the systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations by the Government of Eritrea in a climate of generalized impunity” and extended CoIE’s mandate for one year and empowered it to conduct its investigation “with a view to ensuring full accountability” and to report to the Council by June 2016.
The Commission will hold a press conference on June 8 at 11:30 (Central European Time) or 6:30 am EST. It will be streamed live here.
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