The IRF Community and the Africa Working Group are circulating a multi-faith letter expressing grave concern over two competing resolutions tabled at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council concerning the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. It urges the adoption of the European Union-led resolution extending the mandate—citing Eritrea’s ongoing religious persecution, arbitrary detention, and transnational repression—and calls for the rejection of the counter-resolution introduced by the Eritrean government, which seeks to terminate the mandate altogether. Emphasizing past engagement with the Special Rapporteur and highlighting the need for unfettered access to the country, the letter reflects the collective voice of diverse religious freedom advocates who are committed to upholding international human rights mechanisms and accountability.

Informative Sources:

• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. 2025 Recommendations – Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and Special Watch List (SWL). USCIRF 2025 Annual Report. Retrieved from uscirf.gov

• U.S. Department of State. Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List Countries, Entities of Particular Concern. Office of International Religious Freedom. Retrieved from state.gov

• 3. African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies. (2023, October). Country Resolutions Adopted at the NGOs Forum Preceding the 77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights [PDF]. ACDHRS. Retrieved from ACDHRS website

  4. United Nations Human Rights Council. Situation of human rights in Eritrea: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker. A/HRC/59/24. 5 April 2025. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fr24oqhUxlN8Z1htr2U-TtZmElGOX45zbUXuPslenvg/edit?usp=sharing

  5. Bader, L. (2025, June 24). Human Rights Council Members Should Reject Eritrea’s Bid to End Scrutiny. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved from HRW website