KEY ISSUES

Origins of the Eritrean human rights crisis

In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia after a thirty-year-long liberation war. The liberation movement, subsequently transformed into a political party, with its leader,  Isaias Afewerki, assuming the role of the country’s first president. He assured the population that the democracy they had fought for would materialize,but stated that more time was needed to establish the necessary foundations.

In 2001, the government scheduled the country’s first elections. However, members of Isaias’ own administration began expressing concerns regarding his governance and the lack of preparation for the elections. These concerns were amplified by leading journalists within the country. 

On 18 September 2001, with world's attention focused on the September 11 attacks in New York, the Eritrean government enacted a sweeping crackdown, banning all independent media.. hey arrested politicians and journalists perceived as threats to their authority, and systematically dismantled institutions that could foster dissent. Civil society organisations and political parties were prohibited, the implementation of the national constitution was halted, the university was closed, and access to the internet was severely restricted.

Moving forward, all real or suspected dissent would be met with intimidation, imprisonment, or death. They created a society where no one was allowed to challenge them without risking their lives and young people were intentionally deprived of the education, skills, and resources necessary to challenge their government effectively.

Abuses in Eritrea

Since then, the country has experienced one of the most dire human rights crises in the world. All capable Eritreans are enlisted into an indefinite national service, that has been compared to slavery by the United Nations, where torture and sexual violence are routine. The government forcibly conscripts citizens in whatever capacity and location they see fit - robbing Eritreans of the chance to choose their profession, develop their skills and reach their full potential - all whilst becoming deeply traumatised by the abuse they also face. Eritreans of all ages and backgrounds are routinely detained without due process. They are frequently detained for real or perceived opposition to the government, practising outlawed religions, attempting to flee the country, or trying to evade national service. They are held under inhumane conditions, without access to lawyers or visitors, and a majority of the time, their whereabouts often withheld from family members and legal representatives are not disclosed. Members of the national service have been forced to fight in the war in Tigray, and family members of draft evaders have faced imprisonment and other forms of abuse.

The socio-economic situation in the country is also highly concerning: The national service salary that the majority of the population depends on is extremely low, businesses are not able to freely operate, and most of the population is dependent on families abroad to survive. Government policies have intentionally created and facilitated an ongoing food, water, medicine, and electricity crisis in the country that has devastated the population in an effort to keep their attention focused on survival, rather than resistance. Eritreans are also not permitted to freely move within the country and the government requires exit visas to leave the country, which are very rarely granted. The government practices a ‘shoot to kill’ policy at the border to prevent Eritreans from fleeing.

Abuses against Eritrean refugees

Since the establishment of the Eritrean dictatorship, thousands of Eritreans have fled the country every month.Their journeys are often very dangerous, but this has not deterred many Eritreans. Currently, there are 580,000 registered Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers. After fleeing Eritrea, they are likely to experience even more human rights abuses and difficulties from both state and non-state actors. Many go to countries in the neighbouring region, where they plan to stay temporarily before going to the West. There, many are stuck in war zones, face human rights abuses, are detained and even deported back to Eritrea. There are also very limited educational and professional opportunities for them, causing many to live in limbo - working just to survive, waiting, and being forced to waste years that they could have spent building their lives. Many don't want to stay in their initial place of refuge long because of how poorly they are treated, the lack of long-term opportunities and the overall unstable political situation there. But they often end up staying in these locations longer due to the dangers and high cost of attempting to go to the West. Sometimes they even have to reverse course when their journeys to the West are disrupted. 

Those who attempt to flee to Europe face unimaginable horrors and difficulties along their  journey through Libya and on the Mediterranean Sea. Even those who successfully arrive in Europe are faced with the hostile migration systems that await them there. Among the challenges posed by these systems are extremely long processing times, living in uncertain conditions and an inability to access work authorization.