Eritreans Attending UPR Session In Geneva

Between November 30 and December 11, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, will conduct the 6th session of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR). As with all other countries, the UPR will review human right reports submitted by the government of Eritrea and other stakeholders, including Awate.

The independent report on Eritrea is a compilation of submissions made by 17 Eritrean and other stakeholders. A report prepared by Awate in April 2009 (report of the coalition ) is part of the compiled UPR report which is referred to as Joint Submission (JS1.)

Eritrean authorities have not submitted their own report.

Eritrea will be reviewed in the morning session of Nov. 30, 2009 from 10am to 1 pm and the adoption of the report will be on Dec 2, 2009 between 12 noon and 12:30 pm.

From funds provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Human Right House Foundation has provided travel and accommodation to four Eritreans to attend the review in Geneva and asked Awate to select the candidates. The following individuals will be attending:

Mr. Amha Domenico (Europe),
Mr. Abdulraziq Kerrar (Australia),
Mr. Semere Habtemarian (USA), and
Mr. Yassin Mohammed Abdella (Sudan)

Background

At the request of the Human Rights House Foundation, awate had prepared an extensive human rights report. This report, which is attached here, was submitted for review to the Eritrean Global Solidarity; Network of Eritrea Civil Societies-Europe; Suwera Center for Human Rights-Sudan; the Eritrean community in Australia Inc. and the Eritrean Australian Mercy Association Inc. All endorsed the report. The four Eritreans, a diverse group of human rights activists, will engage in networking and advocacy activities.

Related Document Links:

The Coalition Report
The report on Eritrea is compilation reports made by 17 so-called stakeholders
Missing Eritrean state report