Eritrea

Table of Contents

Overview

Eritrea is covered by the OHCHR East Africa Multi Country Office. The Office supports the promotion and protection of human rights through advocacy, advisory services and technical cooperation to national authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society, and human rights defenders. It also monitors human rights developments and supports various stakeholders, including other UN entities working in the country, to strengthen human rights protection systems and mainstream human rights in programmes.

The Human Rights Council created the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, to assess and report on the human rights situation and receive individual complaints.

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News & Statements

Latest news

19 Jun 2026

Special Procedures

No signs of meaningful improvement in Eritrea’s human rights situation, warns UN Expert

15 Dec 2025

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Eritrea: Recent releases of detainees encouraging

06 Feb 2025

Treaty bodies

UN Child Rights Committee publishes findings on Ecuador, Eritrea, Gambia, Honduras, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Slovakia

21 Jun 2024

Human Rights Council

Independent Expert Notes Concerning Trend of Ever-Expanding Restrictions on Rights to Freedom of Expression, Peaceful Assembly and Association Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

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Latest statements & messages

27 Feb 2025

Multiple Mechanisms

Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights in Eritrea

28 Feb 2024

Multiple Mechanisms

Dire human rights sitution in Eritrea

07 Mar 2023

Multiple Mechanisms

Global update: High Commissioner outlines concerns in over 40 countries

06 Mar 2023

Multiple Mechanisms

Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights in Eritrea

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Featured Stories

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08 June 2016 Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

United Nations inquiry finds crimes against humanity in Eritrea

Crimes against humanity have been committed in a widespread and systematic manner in Eritrean detention facilities, military training camps and other locations across the country over the past 25 years, according to a new report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea.
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08 June 2016

Fear in Eritrea

A new report released by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea features chilling accounts of human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity.
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Universal Periodic Review

Core documents for the current and previous cycles

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

Special Procedures

Reports

A/HRC/59/24: Situation of human rights in Eritrea

A/HRC/53/20: Situation of human rights in Eritrea - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

A/HRC/50/20: Situation of human rights in Eritrea - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

A/HRC/47/21: Situation of human rights in Eritrea Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

A/HRC/44/23: Human rights situation in Eritrea - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

A/HRC/41/53: Situation of human rights in Eritrea - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea

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Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea >  

Special Procedures country visits

Treaty Bodies

Reports

CRC/C/ERI/CO/5-6: Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Eritrea

CRC/C/OMN/CO/5-6: Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Oman

CEDAW/C/ERI/CO/6: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Eritrea

CCPR/C/ERI/CO/1: Human Rights Committee - Concluding observations on Eritrea in the absence of its initial report

CRC/C/ERI/CO/4: Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Eritrea

E/C.12/ISL/CO/4: Concluding observations on the fourth report of Iceland, adopted by the Committee at its forty - ninth session

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Status & Reporting

Status of Ratifications Reporting Status Standing invitation to Special Procedures

External Resources

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights African Court of Justice African Union

Note: OHCHR is not responsible for the content of external links.

Contact Information

Headquarters

Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD)
Contact in Geneva, Switzerland.

Africa Branch
Tel. +41 22 917 9220

Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea

Photo Credit : UNICEF/UNI102764/Paterno

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