Another Side-Event at UN Geneva Discusses Implications of UN Report on Tyranny in Eritrea

2016-06-25 21:43:02 Written by  EPDP Information Office Published in EPDP News Read 2325 times

Eritrean human rights and democracy activists lobbying at UN Geneva organized another side-event on Friday, 24 June, and further highlighted the human rights situation in Eritrea and the legal implications of the UN Commission of Inquiry report.

 

T he side-event, chaired by Ms Jane Connors, a senior member of Amnesty International who in recent years headed operations in Africa, had three panelists who were: Mr. Biniam Simon of the Paris-based Radio Erena, Dr. Daniel Rezene of Eritrean Law Society, and Ms. Selam Kidane of the Europe-wide Eritrean Stop Slavery movement.

Journalist Biniiam Simon, who described President Isaias Afwerki as "leader of all crimes in Eritrea", spoke in great length about how freedom of expression was silenced in Eritrea and how thousands of victims in the country suffered or disappeared without knowing the charges against them. "The man has so" was sufficient for regime members to take any brutal act against any person in Eritrea, Mr. Biniam explained.

Dr Daniel Rezene on his part explained the very meaning of terminologies and phrases like "crime against humanity" and believed that the conclusions of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea match the systemic, widespread and gross violations of human rights experienced in the country during the past 25 years. He said it is now up to the 47 delegations of at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council to find appropriate mechanism to bring to accountability all the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in the country during the past quarter of a century.

Ms Selam Kidane also narrated how the various crimes against the Eritrean people were committed during those long years since independence and the unending plight of young Eritreans inside the country and those exposed to abuses in exile.

Meeting participants enriched the discussion on accountability and hoped that local and regional narrow interests will not dilute the strong recommendations of the UN Commission of Inquiry.

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Participants at the side-event included Eritrean and non-Eritrean human rights and democracy activists, press representatives and members of country delegations to UN meetings in Geneva. Beside Eritrean contributors a the discussions, such as EPDP's Mr. Woldeyesus Ammar, there also were Ethiopian friends. One of them was Dr. Aregawi Berhe, one of the early founders and leaders of struggle in the Tigrai province of Ethiopia. In his comment at the Eritrean side-event on Friday, Dr. Aregawi Berhe hoped that international organizations like Amnesty International would consider providing support in the form of capacity building and unity of Eritrean, Ethiopian and other non-state democratic forces struggling for better future in their respective countries.  

Last modified on Saturday, 25 June 2016 23:46