UN Human Rights Council 62: UK Explanation of Vote on the draft resolution on Eritrea

Mr President,

The UK remains concerned by the human rights situation in Eritrea. The system of indefinite national service has a suffocating impact on the lives of Eritreans, especially young people, and has contributed to mass emigration including to the UK. It requires urgent reform.

We welcome areas of progress that have been made in Eritrea; including relating to essential health services and education. In particular, and as recognised in this draft resolution, we are pleased to see the release of some arbitrarily detained persons held for political or religious reasons. We encourage the Eritrean government to extend these releases to the many more that remain arbitrarily detained.

It is clear that the Special Rapporteur's efforts to report on the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to be needed. As such, the UK supports the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea and its outcome to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.

We thank the core group behind this resolution for constructive and transparent engagement with the Council and support the adoption of this resolution by consensus.

If a vote is called, we will vote YES and encourage others to do the same.

Thank you.