Embassy and Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea in Geneva
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The Culture of Human Respect
Respecting humanity is a culture in Eritrea. Respecting humanity and equality in a civilized manner are deeply rooted within the Eritrean society. Starting from ancient times, the Eritrean communities had their own civilized laws and well-developed traditional ways of managing public affairs. During the colonial period, one researcher who deeply studied and observed the laws and the way of doing things in Eritrea described the Eritrean people as: “civilized people who lived peacefully without the police.”
Many, many years back, the Eritrean communities had well-developed ways of managing land and proper means of resource allocation within the society. In the past, the Eritrean people managed its affairs for centuries through the help of not a representative democracy, which prevails in the present day world, but through direct democracy, the people had cumulatively developed civilized and suitably applicable couture that is aligned with the unique realities of the country.
Because of this civilized culture, the Eritrean people are characterized by harmony, coexistence, respect for others' property, rule of law, compliance with treaties and contracts, and upholding international conventions. This civilized culture also prevailed and was further developed during the bitter struggle for independence that resulted when the Eritrean people were denied the right to self-determination.
After independence was achieved on 24 May 1991, by making considerable sacrifices, many Ethiopian soldiers were stationed in Eritrea. While those soldiers were the enemies of the Eritrean people, the EPLF respected the rights of those disarmed soldiers and treated them humanely. As a result, some 100,000 soldiers were sent peacefully to their place of origin right after the EPLF realized the independence of Eritrea. It is its civilized culture that enabled the Eritrean people to respect and humanly treat those soldiers who were engaged in looting and killing innocent people in Eritrea-they used to loot and kill innocent people until the eve of independence. This manner of treating war prisoners is hardly observed elsewhere.
After all, human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness. Without social justice, we aspire to do just that. We have achieved a lot in that direction, for instance, by making health and education universally free.
Eritrea's revolution, which spanned from the early 1960s until the country's eventual independence in 1993, was not just a fight for national sovereignty but also significantly a struggle for human rights. Throughout this period, Eritreans were subjected to various human rights abuses, including forced conscription, torture, and massacres.
The Ethiopian government's attempts to forcibly assimilate Eritrean society and suppress its unique cultural and linguistic identity further exacerbated these abuses. In response, the Eritrean liberation movements, primarily the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), not only mobilized to achieve independence but also to restore dignity and basic human rights to the Eritrean people. The struggle was deeply rooted in the principles of justice and equality, with the EPLF advocating for a democratic society where the rights of all citizens, regardless of ethnic, religious, or gender differences, were respected and protected.
It serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression and the ongoing quest for justice and dignity for all people. The legacy of Eritrea's fight for human rights continues to influence discussions on governance, freedom, and human dignity in the country and beyond.
Right to Development
In Eritrea's mixed economy, both the state and the private sector play crucial roles in the country's development. Eritrea has prioritized short- and medium-term development plans to enhance its capacity for development planning. As part of these efforts, Eritrea has chosen to pursue a medium-term, five-year Indicative National Development Plan. This plan is executed through comprehensive sector development plans and corresponding annual development plans. Eritrea employs a synergistic development plan approach, integrating top-down and bottom-up planning techniques to formulate the Indicative National Development Plan. This approach entails an iterative process that addresses local community priorities, assisting the government in establishing clearly defined macro-level priorities.
Eritrea is fully committed to the interconnection of human rights, development, and peace and security. In pursuit of this objective, it places high priority on the integration of human rights into the Indicative National Development Plans. Additionally, Eritrea actively incorporates international and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as International and Regional Development Goals and Agendas, into its national framework. Eritrea's steadfast dedication to peace, security, human dignity, and prosperity is clearly demonstrated through its successful implementation of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. The country's processes of development and nation-building are driven by principles of social justice and inclusivity, ensuring that every citizen, irrespective of religion, language, or geographic location, is afforded the freedom and opportunity to participate in and reap the benefits of national development programs.
Cultural Rights
In 1993, after Eritrea declared its independence, it became a member of several international organizations, such as UNESCO, and also signed several important international documents, including the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (in 2001), the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention (in 2004), and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (in 2010).
Significantly, in 2015, Eritrea introduced legislation, Proclamation 177/2015, aimed at protecting its national cultural and natural heritage, with a particular focus on tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The purpose of this legislation was to establish a framework for the protection of Eritrea's intangible cultural heritage for future generations and to raise public awareness about its importance. This legislative milestone not only emphasized the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage but also recognized its potential contribution to sustainable development.
Proclamation 177/2015 addresses various issues, including the establishment of integrated systems for identifying, registering, documenting, monitoring, administrating, conserving, protecting, safeguarding, and preserving heritage resources. It also includes measures to control the illicit transfer, export, or transport of heritage materials. The Proclamation also focuses on protecting Eritrea's cultural heritage from damage and hazards, promoting research and information dissemination, and ensuring the active involvement of government institutions and the public.
Additionally, the Proclamation defines what constitutes cultural heritage in Eritrea, outlines administrative and management schemes, and provides guidelines for ownership, repatriation, research, and the management of sites, monuments, movable heritage, and intangible aspects of heritage. It also specifies the sanctions for violating the Proclamation.
Civil and Political Rights
The State of Eritrea guarantees citizen’s rights to freedom of conscience and religion according to the law. The National Charter of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) states that the national system must be secular and independent from religion while still upholding religious equality. In essence, nationhood should form the basis for all political institutions and policies. Similarly, Article 2 of Proclamation 73/1995 clearly establishes the fundamental principle of separating state and religion. It explicitly prohibits religious institutions from participating in any political activities, whether in support or opposition to the government.
Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Article 14 of the Transitional Civil Code of Eritrea, along with the provisions in regional and international human rights instruments to which Eritrea is a state party, guarantees the right to express one's own ideas. This right may only be restricted in order to respect the morality and rights of others, as well as the law. Interference with the exercise of these rights is not tolerated, but they may not be used for political purposes or to undermine morality and public order. Consensus-building and the implementation of the Social Contract within the participatory approach of the government depend on having full access to information. National Radio Services, which cover a wide range of current economic, developmental, social, and political issues, are available in all nine ethnic languages spoken in the country. There are also plans to expand television services to the same level.
The Government's policy approach aligns fully with the concept of overseeing and facilitating access to information, but the specific oversight mechanism is not yet in place. The Government has also installed FM Radio Stations throughout the country to supplement MW/SW Transmitters and improve access to information for people living in remote and rural areas.
Eritrea's internet connectivity is currently provided through satellite, which limits the internet speed and bandwidth. However, Eritrea Telecommunication Corporation (EriTel) is working to address this issue by implementing various projects to increase the bandwidth. Since 2021, EriTel has introduced a new satellite technology called Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), which offers higher internet speeds and reduced latency compared to the previously used Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites.
EriTel is actively taking steps to ensure the continuous availability of internet services throughout the country. This includes deploying a higher-capacity backbone network and adding backup gateway sites in different geographical locations. The ultimate goal is to provide reliable and affordable internet services to the population. In addition, EriTel has introduced various optional packages, such as volume-based services and off-peak hour services, to incentivize internet service customers. These options are offered alongside the dedicated ADSL and Wi-Fi facilities.