Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Eritrea
We the participants at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 32nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 6th African Human Rights Book Fair held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Banjul from October 14th-16th, 2002
Having examined collectively the human rights situations in Eritrea over the past years,
Noting with grave concerns the violations of human rights and fundamental freedom especially freedom of expression and assembly; the continued imprisonment of journalists, the denial of justice and the right to fair trial; the total information blackout and the prolongation of the political transition;
Concerned at the way the Government of Eritrea has increasingly curtailed and negated fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed by the African Charter
We call upon the African Commission to:
Send a mission to Eritrea to assess the human rights situation;
Urge the Eritrea government to stop the attacks on the independent media, critical and dissident voices in the country;
Ensure that the Eritrea government upholds the rule of law and initiate a national reform to establish the Constitutional order;
Urge the Eritrea government to respect the freedom of expression and information of both the citizens and the media and to allow citizen’s participation
Call upon the Eritrea government for the release of all journalists and political detainees in prison
Done in Banjul, The Gambia 16th October 2002
