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Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Praise Eritrea’s Proposed Data Collection System on Child Protection, Ask about Harmful Practices and the Compulsory Military Training Programme

Meeting Summaries

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Eritrea, with Committee Experts praising the proposed data collection system on child protection and raising questions about efforts to address harmful practices affecting children and the compulsory military training programme.

Mikiko Otani, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, said the proposed Child and Social Protection Information Management System was most welcome.  What was the status of its establishment?  Did the Government plan to collect data on child protection?

A Committee Expert acknowledged the State party’s efforts to eliminate harmful practices against children, including the criminalisation of female genital mutilation.  However, the Expert noted that female genital mutilation and child marriage continued to be prevalent in rural areas.  What steps had been taken to enforce legislation on female genital mutilation and the age of marriage?

Ms. Otani asked if children were forced to undergo military training after completion of high school.  Many children reportedly left the education system so that they did not have to attend military training.  Were there plans to revisit compulsory military training?

In its responses, the delegation affirmed that the Eritrean Government was working to establish an information collection system on child protection, and the United Nations Children's Fund was providing financial support.

Eritrea was making progress in tackling harmful practices, said Mehreteab Fessehaye, Director General, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Eritrea and head of the delegation.  Twelve of the 67 sub zones of Eritrea were now free of female genital mutilation.  The prevalence rates of the practice were 4.4 per cent for girls under 15 years and 2.3 per cent for girls under five years old.

The delegation added that concerted efforts had been made by all relevant ministries to conduct campaigns on early marriage, and its prevalence had decreased in recent years.

Males and females who were at least 18 years old were required to participate in the national service programme, the delegation said.  It replaced the final year of schooling for students.  The programme did not militarise education – the education and military training elements of the programme were separated.  This was not a conscription programme.  It would not be stopped, only refined.

In closing remarks, Ms. Otani thanked the delegation for participating in the dialogue and clarifying several points.  Noting that the delegation had stressed the importance that Eritrea placed on families and communities, she called on the State party to help families and communities to understand and protect children’s rights.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Fessehaye said that in the dialogue, the delegation had presented the progress made for children in Eritrea and the challenges that the State party faced. Implementing the Convention took time, but the State party would continue to work tirelessly toward its full implementation and looked forward to the Committee’s continued support in this endeavour, he concluded.

The delegation of Eritrea consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; Ministry of Health; National Union of Eritrean Women; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education; and the Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Eritrea at the end of its ninety-eighth session on 31 January.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session’s webpage.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public this afternoon at 3 p.m. to consider the combined sixth and seventh periodic report of Honduras (CRC/C/HND/6-7).

Report

The Committee has before it the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Eritrea (CRC/C/ERI/5-6).

Presentation of Report

MEHRETEAB FESSEHAYE, Director General, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Eritrea and head of the delegation, said Eritrea upheld the protection and promotion of children's rights as a cornerstone of its free political orientation and conviction.  It had taken proactive initiatives to build a robust legal framework that promoted the protection of child rights.  Its laws explicitly prohibited all forms of discrimination, affirming that every individual person, regardless of age, had the right to enjoy liberties and protections without exception.

Eritrea's legal framework categorically prohibited corporal punishment.  Existing legislation effectively prohibited all forms of violence against children, including imposing stringent penalties for sexual offenses.  Eritrea’s justice system prioritised rehabilitation, utilising non-custodial measures for young offenders.  Measures had been implemented to facilitate child-friendly participation in legal proceedings.  Additionally, during the past three years, the Ministry of Justice had initiated national legal awareness raising platforms to inform and persuade the public about their legal obligations related to protections for children.

In addition to the existing national committee, six zonal, 67 sub-zonal and 701 administrative districts committees on the implementation of the Convention had been established.  Sub-zonal Women’s Rights and Child Rights Committees included youth representatives to ensure that their voices were heard.  The Government had been raising awareness on issues related to the Convention by organising seminars and workshops.  In 2024 alone, a total of 316,824 persons attended the seminars.

Eritrea was making progress in tackling harmful practices.  Twelve of the 67 sub zones of Eritrea, including 460 villages, were now free of female genital mutilation.  The prevalence rates of the practice were 4.4 per cent for girls under 15 years and 2.3 per cent for girls under five years old.

Programmes for orphans, street children, families of martyrs and HIV/AIDS affected families had been put in place.  The Social Protection Policy and Strategic Plan focused on hosting and supporting the most vulnerable, including children, women, and persons with disabilities.

Committees composed of organizations of persons with disabilities had been continuing sensitisation programmes that promoted equal access to resources and educational opportunities for children with disabilities.  Eritrea ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 20 December 2024, reaffirming the State’s dedication to inclusivity.

Eritrea had made significant strides in children's health, attaining above 95 per cent immunisation coverage and introducing new vaccines since 2020.  Community-led sanitation initiatives had resulted in open defecation-free declarations by most Eritrean villages.  Through Government programmes, the country had also enhanced maternal and neonatal survival rates.  The proportion of births attended by skilled health workers had increased from 62 per cent in 2017 to 83.5 per cent in 2023.  The prevalence of HIV among the youth aged 15-24 had drastically declined, and the country had made significant progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.  An all-society approach to malaria control using high impact interventions had resulted in reduced morbidity and mortality.  The Government had also scaled up community infant and young child feeding programmes, which provided micronutrient supplements to pregnant women. 

Today, the net enrolment rate at the elementary level stood at 81.7 per cent, and the literacy rate stood at about 70 per cent, in sharp contrast to the estimated rate of 30 per cent at the time of independence in 1993.  During the last five years, the Government had prioritised the four lowland regions of the country both in the allocation of educational resources and the implementation of various interventions.  Efforts had been made towards the greater inclusion of children with learning difficulties through the establishment of four national associations for persons with disabilities, as well as the provision of educational opportunities for some children with special needs.  Considerable efforts had been made to improve the quality of education at all levels and in all types of education, including through the review of school curricula, the training of new and serving teachers, the strengthening of school management, and the expansion of skills training.

In the area of leisure, the Government had endeavoured to enhance children’s opportunities for recreational activities and sports.  Some of the key steps taken in this respect had been the construction of sports fields and playgrounds in and around schools, the training of physical education teachers, and the biennial national sports and athletics competitions among schoolchildren.  The Government had also promoted the development of robust cultural identity and knowledge among children, including through the introduction of arts education and civic education and the establishment of students’ clubs.

Eritrea remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring every child's health, safety and empowerment.

Questions by Committee Experts 

MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, asked if the Transitional Penal Code and the Transitional Civil Code were still in force.  When would the laws adopted in 2015 be enforced?  What was the timeline for drafting a new Constitution?  Were there plans to harmonise relevant legislation with the Convention and develop a comprehensive law on children’s rights? What progress had been made in mainstreaming child rights in State programmes?

Was there a budget line for child protection?  The proposed Child and Social Protection Information Management System was most welcome. What was the status of its establishment?  Did the Government plan to collect data on child protection?  What was the process that the Women’s Rights and Child Rights Committees followed to assess complaints from children? Did they have sufficient budgets for handling complaints?  Eritrea’s strategy for access to justice was very impressive.  Was access to justice services child-friendly?

Why had Eritrea expressed a reservation to the Paris Principles?  Was it true that Eritrea imposed on non-governmental organizations limitations on the scope and funding of activities and obligations for reporting on finances and staff?  Did the Government have the authority to terminate the activities of organizations?

Children whose parents had been subjected to enforced disappearance reportedly faced discrimination at school. What measures had the State party taken to address this issue?  Were reports that children from minority ethnic groups were excluded from social welfare programmes accurate?  How were the best interests of the child applied in courts, and what training was provided on them? Had studies been carried out on the factors reportedly forcing some children to flee the country?  How was the State addressing these issues?

It was impressive that the Ministry of Information conducted biannual surveys and engaged in regular consultations to collect views from children.  Were the outcomes publicly available?  Was training conducted on promoting child participation?  Were children heard in judicial proceedings affecting them and in legislative and policy development on issues affecting them at the national and regional levels?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, asked how the State party informed the public of the procedure for birth registration.  What happened after the 90-day deadline elapsed?  What steps had been taken to register children born in periods of conflict?  How did the Government support registration in rural areas?  How could children born outside of hospitals obtain birth certificates? Were civil registry offices set up in remote areas?  What costs were involved in obtaining birth registration?

There was seemingly little space for children to express themselves freely without fear of arrest.  Jehovah’s Witness children were reportedly subjected to discrimination. Could the delegation provide information on this?  Were children free to hold meetings in public areas?

Less than 10 per cent of the population had access to the internet.  What was the Government doing to enable access to the internet and the media, particularly in rural areas?  Were there media campaigns in place on the rights of children?

A Committee Expert said corporal punishment was reportedly widely practiced.  Could the delegation provide information on the legal status of corporal punishment? What was being done to prevent violence against children and ensure that perpetrators were duly prosecuted?  There were concerning reports that children who sought to escape military service or flee the country were frequently subjected to torture and inhuman treatment in prisons.  What measures were in place to prevent these practices?  What policies and programmes were in place to prevent violence against children and to protect children from such violence? What child-friendly complaints mechanisms were in place?  What remedies and rehabilitation support had been provided to child victims?  What measures were in place to protect children in the digital environment?

The Expert acknowledged the State party’s efforts to eliminate harmful practices against children, including the criminalisation of female genital mutilation.  However, female genital mutilation and child marriage continued to be prevalent in rural areas.  What steps had been taken to enforce legislation on female genital mutilation and the age of marriage, and to prosecute persons who carried out harmful practices against children?  What measures were in place to prohibit polygamous marriages?

There were insufficient resources to implement policies and programmes for children with disabilities.  It was also concerning that children with disabilities continued to be segregated in special schools.  What measures were in place to promote the rights of children with disabilities and promote inclusive education?

A Committee Expert asked what standards were in place on the care of children in community rehabilitation centres.  Were these institutions monitored and could children in these institutions submit complaints?  What care was provided for children with disabilities in institutions? Was there a legal framework underpinning adoption practices, including international adoptions?  Did Eritrea intend to ratify relevant Hague Conventions related to adoptions and abductions?  What legal instruments addressed illegal intercountry adoption and abductions?

Did the State party apply alternative measures to arrest for mothers with young children?  Could such children stay with their mothers in prisons?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the coordination mechanism on women’s and children’s rights had been strengthened in recent years.  Representatives of law enforcement and religious leaders were incorporated in the mechanism, as were representatives of the United Nations entities. At least two children were included in each sub-committee of the mechanism.  Committees that were established through civil society organizations were not provided with budgets from the Government.  Eritrea did not host international non-governmental organizations as it could not fund their high running costs.

Eritrea aimed to implement the proposed child policy and the 2015 draft Constitution, hopefully within the next few years.  They were in conformity with the Convention.

The State party had a budget line for the protection of women and children.  Families were not required to pay to register their children in most State schools. The Government was focusing on supporting children in rural areas so that they could access education and social support.  Healthcare fees were also waived for vulnerable families.  The Government was working to establish an information collection system on child protection, and the United Nations Children's Fund was providing financial support.

The Government was promoting the rights of families to raise their children.  Police took abandoned infants to the Asmara Childcare Centre if there were no extended family members who could take care of them.  Such children could be adopted by screened foster families, including families from other countries, after approval by the courts.  Adopted children had the right to own land and obtain employment.

There were a variety of free television and radio programmes for children broadcast in multiple languages, providing education and cultural content for children.  The Government did not censor content unless it promoted violence and discrimination. Efforts to expand access to the internet in rural areas were underway.  There were measures to safeguard children’s rights online. Online exploitation of children was harshly punished.  Freedom of religion was also safeguarded by law.  The Constitution prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, culture and ethnicity.

There were awareness raising campaigns in place promoting gender equality.  Education was a key strategy for addressing issues related to gender equality in marriage. Eritrea maintained zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence.  Customary laws did not support sexual violence and rape.  When such offenses occurred, judicial bodies held perpetrators accountable and victims were supported.

Failure to declare a birth within a 90-day period was a criminal offence punished with a fine.  The costs for registration and issuance of identification cards were less than 10 United States dollars.  There had been an increase in birth registrations in recent years.  Over 90 per cent of births in the central region were registered.  The Government had assessed the civil registration process, and based on the findings of this study, had developed a strategy for promoting civil registration. The strategy’s aim was to achieve 90 per cent registration in all areas of the country by 2028.  The Government was also working to raise religious leaders’ awareness of the importance of registration.

Reports of discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Eritrea were speculative and disconnected from reality.  The State did not recognise such persons, following its traditional values. Eritrea also categorically rejected allegations of discrimination against minority ethnic groups.  The Government continued to work diligently to ensure the wellbeing of citizens from minority ethnic groups.  Some minority ethnic groups lived in remote areas with sparce resources, but the Government was committed to addressing this issue through targeted programmes.  The Government sought to ensure inclusive development and protection of the rights of all through a participatory, community-based approach.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert welcomed Eritrea’s philosophy of creating a safe environment for children.  Had there been progress in reducing the prevalence of female genital mutilation after its prohibition?

Another Committee Expert said that there were civilian, military and customary justice systems in place.  How did these systems interact and address obligations regarding children in cases of separation of parents?

The Committee was aware of Eritrea’s efforts to make education free and to improve education for children with disabilities and girls. Was the State party planning legislation to ensure that all education was free and to support access to preschool education?  How was the State party addressing the hidden costs of schooling for vulnerable families and working to improve access to education in rural areas and training for teachers?  What measures were in place to prevent school dropouts?  Many children left the education system so that they did not have to attend military training.  Were there plans to revisit compulsory military training?  How was the State party supporting children with disabilities and vulnerable children to access leisure activities?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, asked about measures to protect children from discrimination in schools.  How did the State party support women in remote areas to access health care? Did adolescents have access to information on reproductive health?  Was there a dedicated mental healthcare centre for children and adolescents?  How was care for such patients organised?

How did the State party address drug trafficking and protect young people from illicit substances?  Were there centres caring for people with HIV/AIDS?  It seemed that HIV/AIDS was on the rise in Eritrea.  How was the State addressing this?  How was the State party involving children in climate change adaptation and risk prevention programmes, and addressing the issue of poverty?

MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, said that the State party had rejected several of the Committee’s previous recommendations.  Why was this? Which elements of the budget were used to promote children’s rights and welfare? 

The Committee noted progress in addressing child labour. Was child labour specifically prohibited in State legislation?  There were concerning reports of forced child labour in the agricultural sector.  Could the delegation comment on these?  What support was provided to child victims of forced labour?

The Government was active in international efforts to combat trafficking, but data on trafficking of children had not been provided.  Were there any reported cases of child trafficking?

The Committee noted positive progress in implementing child-friendly justice systems.  Was the minimum age of criminal responsibility still nine years?  Did special judicial procedures for child offenders apply to children over 15 years?  How was the State party working to improve detention conditions for children? There was no free legal assistance available for child offenders.  Did the Government plan to provide such assistance and establish dedicated children’s courts?

Were children forced to undergo military training after completion of high school?  The Government had denied reports of underage conscription.  Would it allow a United Nations body to investigate this issue? What measures were in place to protect the rights of children involved in armed conflict?  When would the State party submit its initial report under the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict?

Another Committee Expert asked for data on fines issued for not registering births. Did the prohibition of homosexuality apply to children and adults without distinction?  What penalty was applied to homosexual children and how many children had been affected by this prohibition?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that in 2023 and 2024, a comprehensive study involving 53,000 households was carried out to map the prevalence of female genital mutilation. The preliminary findings revealed a strong opposition to female genital mutilation, with 95 per cent of respondents stating a desire to end the practice.  Effective awareness raising campaigns discouraging female genital mutilation had been organised in various regions.  As a result, rates of female genital mutilation had fallen from 12 per cent to around two per cent.

Over 400 zonal health centres staffed with doctors and nurses were set up across the State.  Most health care facilities were publicly owned.  Treatment for maternal health and chronic diseases was provided for free.  The life expectancy in Eritrea had increased to 67 years, which was higher than the African average.  Eritrea had also made progress in reducing the under-five and infant mortality rates. Child deaths due to malaria had decreased through increased immunisation.  Around 83 per cent of children were born in health facilities. The Government was promoting exclusive breastfeeding through various public awareness raising campaigns and training for health workers.

Eritrea had a mental health policy and action plan that aimed to strengthen the quality and accessibility of mental health care. There was one dedicated mental health care centre, and psychiatric nurses provided mental health care in hospitals across the State.  School health services were linked to community mental health services and could refer students to these as necessary.  Traditional healers and priests also often provided mental health support services.  The Government was working to address stigma related to mental health.

Eritrea was prone to floods, droughts and desert locust infestations, which were occurring more frequently due to climate change.  To mitigate these, the State party was building resilient infrastructure and dams.  Communities, including children, were involved in disaster response and reliance efforts.  Education on disaster response was included in the school curriculum.

A comprehensive policy on adolescent health had been developed. Adolescent health programmes included counselling, reproductive health services, and education on HIV/AIDS.  The police carried out education programmes on substance abuse for adolescents, which focused on smoking and alcohol.

Eritrea had made significant strides in controlling the HIV epidemic through a comprehensive data collection and testing programme. The prevalence among youths had declined by five per cent over the last 20 years to 0.3 per cent in 2023. Various Government agencies had worked to address the epidemic, promoting contraception and increasing the availability of antiviral drugs.

In the last 10 years, the Government had implemented projects supporting education in disadvantaged zones.  These promoted equitable access to education and aimed to improve the quality of education, data collection on education, school facilities, and training for teachers.  The Ministry of Education had set up several kindergartens and pre-primary education services within schools in rural areas over the last five years. It was also providing grants to improve education support for girls, especially in rural areas. 

Eritrea’s cultural values protected girls from sexual violence. There were no reports of such violence in the school system.  However, early marriage occurred in remote areas.  This issue was attached to religion.  Concerted efforts had been made by all relevant ministries to conduct campaigns on this issue, and the prevalence of early marriage had decreased in recent years.

The Government provided affordable teaching and learning materials.  Costs per student per year for school materials were less than five United States dollars.  School uniforms were not mandatory, and costs for uniforms were also less than 10 United States dollars.  The Government provided a school feeding programme in remote areas and financed 10 boarding schools that accommodated children from remote areas seeking secondary and tertiary education.  As of 2022, at elementary level, the dropout rate was 3.6 per cent; at secondary level, it was 8.8 per cent.  It increased the higher the education level.  Difficulty in accessing schools was a main reason for dropouts.  The Government was working to address this issue by establishing new schools in remote areas and boarding schools.

The education system was inclusive of children with disabilities, who were encouraged to participate in sports and cultural activities. There were two schools for deaf and blind children and the Government was working to expand these and construct new schools.

The national service programme was a necessary policy measure to ensure national security and promote development and national cohesion. Males and females who were at least 18 years old and had completed 12 years of education were required to participate in the programme.  The programme had been the target of several disinformation campaigns, characterised as conscription and slavery.  It was a critical national institution that was not limited to military service; it also included a public service component.  This programme would not be stopped, only refined.

Eritrea had been working to address its human rights and development challenges, which pushed some young Eritreans to leave the country. Various United States and European administrations systematically provided asylum to Eritreans, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had advocated for blanket asylum for Eritrean youths.  This had been the principal factor behind the disproportionate migration of young Eritreans over the last 20 years.  There was a large amount of disinformation about Eritrea online, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Eritrea was one of the main sources of disinformation on the country.  The country-specific mandate was politically motivated and sought to serve the interests of the West.

The duration of the national service programme was 18 months. It replaced the final year of schooling for students, who needed to be 18 years old to participate in the programme. The programme did not militarise education – the education and military training elements of the programme were separated.  After the 18-month period, graduates were placed on the national reserves and could be called to military service in times of war.

The State party had developed agricultural support programmes that aimed to improve nutrition, food security and living standards. Resources such as livestock had been provided to rural households to help improve their self-reliance.  The Government was also providing food assistance and cash transfers to vulnerable households and running micro-credit schemes. Since 1991, food production in Eritrea had increased seven-fold, helping to reduce poverty rates.

Hazardous child labour was strictly prohibited by national laws.  Police had received no reports of such labour.  Children traditionally helped within the family and family businesses. However, such work did not compromise education opportunities.  Thanks to assistance from the United Nations Children's Fund, over 7,000 vulnerable children had been provided with school supplies so that they could attend school. Children over 15 years old were able to participate in age-appropriate vocational training.  Guidance was provided to children in street situations by more than 400 social workers, who regularly visited vulnerable families.

The initial report under the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict was included in the State party’s fourth periodic report.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert asked how the State party worked to overcome the financial and other risks facing schools?  Was the Sawa National Service Centre a school or a centre for compulsory training?  Did it have a complaints mechanism for students?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, asked who worked in rehabilitation centres and who received care in them.  There were issues with access to sanitation and clean drinking water in some areas. What programmes were in place to address these issues?  How was the State party working to prevent cholera outbreaks?  The State party promoted abstinence rather than contraception for young people.  Was this an effective approach?

MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, said that the Committee was concerned about whether young girls who were married or became pregnant could continue their school education.  Was education support provided to girls who dropped out of school?  From what age did children attend boarding schools?  What age were people when they entered the Sawa National Service Centre? Was there a mechanism to check that students who entered the centre were not underage?

Another Committee Expert asked about the legal regime that applied when children were involved in crimes.  Were children deprived of liberty when they were accused of serious crimes and were they housed with adults?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Transitional Penal Code had been amended to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years.  Special judicial procedures were applied for children aged 12 to 15 years. Children could not be detained with adults.  School or home arrest and rehabilitation programmes were provided as alternatives to detention for young offenders, who could only be sentenced to imprisonment if alternatives to detention had failed.  Proceedings involving young offenders were held in closed chambers. The Government would consider establishing children’s courts in the future.

Bed nets were provided to all people free of charge.  A recent survey found that 76 per cent of young people slept under such nets each night.  Almost 93 per cent of zones in the State had been declared free of open defecation.  The Government had invested in the construction of dams, which helped to promote access to safe water resources.

Eritrea advocated for abstinence and delaying sex, but also taught young people about contraception.  A recent survey had not found any HIV-positive boys, which showed that the Government’s strategy was working.

Girls who married early were prone to drop out of school. The Government was supporting family-based education for such girls.  Many girls who became pregnant continued and completed their education. Children could be admitted to boarding school from age 14.

The Sawa centre started as a military camp, but it now also had a vocational training camp and a school.  There were reporting and monitoring mechanisms in place in the camp and persons who committed violence were held to account.  This was a national service programme, not a conscription programme.

Concluding Remarks

MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Eritrea, thanked the delegation for participating in the dialogue and clarifying several points.  Much had changed in Eritrea after the peace agreement with Ethiopia was reached in 2018.  The delegation had stressed the importance that Eritrea placed on families and communities.  Children grew up in families and communities, so it was very important to help families and communities to understand and protect children’s rights.  The State party’s comprehensive child policy would help to protect and mainstream child rights, and needed to be fully implemented.

MEHRETEAB FESSEHAYE, Director General, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Eritrea and head of the delegation, said the constructive dialogue had been an important learning experience for both the delegation and the Committee.  The delegation had presented the progress made for children in Eritrea and the challenges that the State party faced, including the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the State.  Implementing the Convention took time, but the State party would continue to work tirelessly toward its full implementation.  Eritrea looked forward to the Committee’s continued support in this endeavour.

 

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

 

 

 

CRC25.003E