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<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We continue to be concerned by reports
that indefinite conscription is ongoing in Eritrea. We raise human rights in Eritrea
regularly, both directly with the Government, as the former Minister for Africa did
with the Eritrean President's senior adviser when she saw him in July, and when our
Ambassador in Asmara saw the same advisor in August. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><ins
class="ministerial">In a statement at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council
on 12 July the UK welcomed the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights in Eritrea, which we co-sponsored. The UK also urged
Eritrea to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to reform national service, implement
the constitution, respect freedom of religion or belief, and release all those in
arbitrary detention – including, but not exclusive to detained parliamentarians; journalists;
and those observing banned religions. </ins></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><ins
class="ministerial"><ins class="ministerial">No additional aid has been allocated
as a result of sanctions being lifted. The Department for International Development
(DfID) has funded life-saving activity in Eritrea for several years, including providing
£3.24m to UNICEF in 2018-19 to help treat malnutrition in under-fives and provide
access to safe hygiene and sanitation services. DFID has extended this funding to
UNICEF Eritrea until March 2021.</ins></ins></ins></p><p> </p>
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