Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

European Union condemned for attempting to close Mediterranean to refugees

Participants of the Conference on Eritrea take stand

(20.10.2017) As more than 30 organisations, who are currently meeting in Brussels on the issues facing Eritrean refugees, we note with deep concern the statement of the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk [Thursday 19 October 2017] saying that: ‘We have a real chance of closing the Central Mediterranean route’.

Eritrea: Stop National Service Slavery

Campaign just launched

(01.01.2014) The Stop National Service Slavery in Eritrea Campaign launches today (January 1st) in Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, UK and Italy. The campaign links Eritrean born activists across Europe and will call upon local governments to recognize the oppressive regime in Eritrea, which according to Human Rights Watch is responsible for the mass exodus of 18,000 citizens annually, who risk their lives trying to escape.

Eritrea: Political Persecution of Desertion and Conscientious Objection

(15.09.2010) It was very depressing. Together with Eritrean opposition groups, we held a demonstration in early May in Frankfurt am Main to prevent two Eritrean deserters being deported. But they were still sent off to Eritrea on 14 May 2008 in a private plane chartered for the purpose. Many people had warned what would happen when they arrived in Asmara: they were arrested at once, and taken to an unknown location. The German authorities had not wanted to recognize the likelihood of this.

Eritrea: The fact that the flight itself might cost the refugees lives, is telling

Statement to press conference "Eritrean deserters report about imprisonment and torture"

(09.09.2010) As we all know, people from poor countries like Eritrea may leave their homeland for obvious and no obvious reasons. Some of the obvious reasons that have been driving people to migrate within their political borders, across their political borders and across continents can be:

1. Instability caused by war and warfare induced forced recruitment and military brutality
2. Dictatorial regimes and absence of security, justice and rights
3. Drought, famine and other natural catastrophe caused by environmental and climate change
4. Poverty, economic disparity, and search of a better life and change

The list of persecution, abuse and human rights violations, of deprivations and hardships in Eritrea is long. And worst is, that there seems no hope or means to change the situation. The fact that the flight itself might cost the refugees lives, is telling. If you risk death to escape from a situation – how bad must it be?