http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/un-commission-inquiry-human-rights-eritrea-visit-djibouti-and-ethiopia
UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea to visit Djibouti
and Ethiopia
Posted February 13th, 2015
Geneva, 13 February 2015 -- The United Nations Commission of Inquiry
on Human Rights in Eritrea will visit Djibouti and Ethiopia from 16 to
27 February to hold meetings and collect testimonies and accounts on
the human rights situation in Eritrea.
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea
continues to seek the cooperation of the Government of Eritrea but it
has so far received no response to its request to visit the country.
“While we are still waiting for direct access to Eritrea, we are
proceeding - as per international standards of commissions of inquiry
- to investigate alleged human rights violations by collecting
information from relevant sources outside the country,” the
Chairperson of the three-member United Nations panel, Mike Smith,
said.
“The visits to Djibouti and Ethiopia provide us with an opportunity to
hear first-hand accounts of violations of human rights from those who
have recently fled Eritrea”, Smith added. “The decision of victims
and witnesses of alleged human rights violations to testify will
continue to contribute to increased international knowledge of the
human rights situation in Eritrea”.
Mr. Smith reiterated that the Commission is conducting the inquiry
with impartiality and with no preconceptions. In carrying out its
work, the Commission continues to be guided by the principles of
independence, impartiality, objectivity, transparency, integrity and
the principle of “do no harm”, including in relation to guarantees of
confidentiality and the protection of victims and witnesses.
The Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, which in addition to Mr. Smith
includes as members Victor Dankwa and Sheila B. Keetharuth, who also
serves as Special Rapporteur for Eritrea, was established by the Human
Rights Council during its twenty-sixth session (Resolution
A/HRC/RES/26/24) in June 2014. The Commission of Inquiry is looking at
a broad range of alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea since
it became an independent State. The alleged violations that will be
investigated include, but are not limited to extrajudicial killings;
enforced disappearances; arbitrary arrests and detentions; torture;
violations occurring during compulsory national service; and
restrictions to freedoms of expression and opinion, assembly,
association, religious belief and movement.
The Commission will present a written report of its findings and
recommendations to the Human Rights Council in June 2015. It will
provide oral updates on its work to the Human Rights Council in March
2015 and to the General Assembly at its September 2015 session.
Eritreans who are interested in speaking with a representative of the
Commission during the visits to Djibouti and Ethiopia should contact
the Secretariat atcoieritrea_at_ohchr.org as soon as possible.
The Commission has issued a call for submissions until 28 February
2015. Any State, individual or organization can submit information in
writing to the Commission in English, Tigrinya or Arabic, by post or
email.
Submissions may be sent:
By email to: coieritrea_at_ohchr.org
By post to: Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva
Switzerland
- See more at:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15488&LangID=E#sthash.HQ3bWcxq.dpuf
- For more information about the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea
please consult their website
-
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIEritrea/Pages/commissioninquiryonhrinEritrea.aspx
- For media requests, please contact the Secretariat of the Commission
of Inquiry by email: coieritrea_at_ohchr.org
- See more at:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15488&LangID=E#sthash.HcZyU76h.dpuf
News Source : UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea to
visit Djibouti and Ethiopia
Received on Sun Feb 15 2015 - 10:03:02 EST