Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the government of Italy’s proposal that the time has come for a "new start" on relations with Eritrea and for Eritrea's "full reinstatement as a responsible actor and key member of the international community in the stabilisation of this region", in the light of the commitment to co-operation with European Union partners on the implementation of the Eritrea Country Programme and the human rights record in Eritrea.

The UK’s priorities in Eritrea are to support improvements in human rights and strengthening of the rule of law. To this end, we welcome Eritrea’s ratification in September last year of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We also welcome its participation in the EU – African Union “Khartoum Process” to tackle human trafficking in the region.

However, we continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Eritrea. The UK continues to call on Eritrea to allow the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights access to the country to demonstrate its commitment to the international community. We will continue to monitor the situation via our Embassy in Asmara, alongside EU partners in country.