The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 23 other free speech and human rights organizations in a letter sent yesterday urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea.
The letter notes that the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to be dire, and encourages the Human Rights Council to renew the special rapporteur’s mandate at its next session, to be held in June.
Eritrea has at least 16 journalists behind bars, and is among the most censored nations in the world, according to CPJ research. The letter states that Eritrea has failed to remedy its human rights violations, has dismissed calls for reform, and has failed to cooperate with the special rapporteur.
The signatories urge the Human Rights Council “not to reward non-cooperation” by one its member states but instead to maintain scrutiny on Eritrea.
The letter can be read in full here.