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In a memorandum sent to the Chairwoman of the Commission of the African Union, the Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) urges the 26th AU Summit on Human Rights to put Eritrea on its agenda and try to address the ever worsening political and human rights situation in the country before it gets too late.

Addressed to Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma by the EPDP Chairman Menghesteab Asmerom, the memorandum hoped the African organization will seriously tackle issues like the situation in Eritrea which caused a societal breakdown and near state failed. The EPDP memorandum reminds Africa of the 2015 decisions of the UN Human Rights Council as well as the criticisms of the Eritrean regime by a special committee on the rights of women. (The full text of the EPDP memorandum can be read at the end of this news item).

The 26th AU Summit on Human Rights, with particular focus on women's rights, is due to open tomorrow, 21 January, and last till the end of the month.

Dr. Zuma, the AU Commission Chairwoman, opened at the Nelson Mandela hall at the AU headquarters on 17 January the 8th AU Gender Pre-Summit which is discussing what African women are expecting the current AU Human Rights Summit to decide on effective implementation of decisions on respecting gender related human rights in Africa and women's empowerment projects.

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Full text of the EPDP Memo to the 26th AU Summit on Human Rights

To: Her Excellency Dr. Nkosanzana Dlamini Zuma,

Chairwoman,

the African Union Commission, Addis Ababa

Date: 20 January 2015

Subject: Have Eritrea as Agenda Item of this 26th AU Summit on Human Rights

Dear AU Commission Chairwoman,

We in the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), an opposition organization in exile that struggles for democratic change in Eritrea, feel pleased to address this memorandum carrying an exceptionally urgent Eritrean people's message to the 26th Summit of the African Union (AU) on Human Rights, with special focus on women, which is opening tomorrow, 21 January 2016. We thus wait with crossed fingers to learn that the sad human rights situation in Eritrea will be one of your hot agenda items, as it has been recently at the meeting halls of the UN and European Union.

Dear Madam,

At this 53rd year of the existence of the continental organization which also marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, Eritreans and the rest of the African peoples are expecting from this AU Summit more serious action on addressing the widespread human rights violations in the continent.

As you  know, Eritrea, one of the 54 AU member states, is, shamefully, a country where:

• No constitution exists after 25 years of statehood;

• No basic human rights are respected;

• No freedoms of press or assembly are allowed;

• No free worship permitted;

• No security to life is guaranteed;

• No free mobility; no private sector; no quality education at any level;

• Literally no paid work, no pension system .... the list of no's is endless.

Your Excellency Dr Zuma,

The situation in Eritrea should concern the AU and all Africans. Because of the humanly intolerable socio-political, economic and above all human rights situation in the country, Eritrea is one of the third largest refugee producer countries in the world today. Under a ruthless one-man dictatorship, it is already a broken society, nearly a failed state - if it is not already there - and urgently looks for some African action to help salvage of what remains of the society.

Equally distressing is the situation of women in Eritrea. All AU participant delegations may be aware of the 483-page report of the UN Commission of Inquiry and the conclusions of the UN Human Rights Council of July 2015. On top of that, a UN special committee scrutinizing state failures in the implementation of the Convention to Eliminate all forms Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reported during 2015 that the Eritrean regime has failed to defend and respect women's human rights as enshrined in that Convention which was, ironically, signed by the Eritrean regime.

Dear AU Commission Chairwoman,

Eritrea is an African issue and we trust you will consider having it as one of the hot agenda items of this 26th AU Summit on Human Rights, with special focus on the rights of women. Kindly also let this modest memorandum be shared with all head of delegations to this 26th AU Summit on Human Rights, with particular focus on women's rights.

Respectfully yours,

Menghesteab Asmerom,

Chairman, Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) in exile.