Eritrea

Part 1

Eritrea, with a population of approximately 3.6 million, is a one‑party state that became independent in 1993 when citizens voted for independence from Ethiopia. The People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), previously known as the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, is the sole political party and has controlled the country since 1991. The country's president, Isaias Afwerki, who heads the PFDJ and the armed forces, dominated the country, and the government continued to postpone presidential and legislative elections; the latter have never been held. The situation was used by the government to justify severe restrictions on civil liberties. The government's human rights record remained poor and authorities continued to commit numerous serious abuses including: abridgement of citizens' right to change their government through a democratic process; unlawful killings by security forces; torture and beating of prisoners, sometimes resulting in death; arrest and torture of national service evaders; harsh and life threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, including of family members of national service evaders; executive interference in the judiciary and the use of a special court system to limit due process; infringement on privacy rights; and roundups of young men and women for national service. Other problems included severe restrictions of basic civil liberties such as the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion; restriction of freedom of movement and travel for diplomats, the personnel of humanitarian and development agencies, and the UN Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia; and restriction of the activities of NGOs. There was societal abuse and discrimination against women, widespread practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), and reports of discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS. There were limitations on workers' rights.