Military Service in Eritrea

This study aims to analyse the human rights violations in the military service in Eritrea in details and to investigate how the international community as major power countries and international organisations as the United Nations react in response to these violations committed by the Eritrean government. The thesis starts with providing a country overview about Eritrea and the history of the country and its demographic distribution, then it is followed with a brief history of military service laws in different countries during the world wars and afterwards. After the brief introduction about Eritrea and military service, the thesis examines in details military service in Eritrea by discussing the history of the military service in Eritrea, and the laws that regulate the military service. Afterwards, a detailed description of the reality of the military service in Eritrea is found, and a description of the experiences of those conscripted, the draft evaders and the draft deserters and also their families. In addition, the experiences of vulnerable people as women and children is also assessed Further in the thesis, the journey of Eritreans to flee their country and seek asylum elsewhere due to the military service is also analysed. After an analysis of the current situation of the military service in Eritrea is done, the thesis investigates how the current reality in Eritrea is far from being inline with the country’s international obligations and how the international community has reacted in the face of these ongoing violations. The study eventually suggests international tools and laws that could be used by the international community in order to hold the Eritrean government responsible for these violations and sanction the decision-makers responsible.