Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his oral update and urges the Government of Eritrea to cooperate fully with his mandate.

We are gravely concerned by Eritrea's involvement in the Ethiopian conflict and reports of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual and gender-based violence and forced returns of Eritrean refugees. We call on Eritrea to withdraw its forces from Ethiopia, investigate all claims of human rights abuses committed by its troops, and issue unequivocal statements that these actions are punishable.

Australia remains concerned by ongoing reports of forced labour, child labour and prolonged, compulsory national service. We call on Eritrea to cease forcibly recruiting young people for conscription and allow children their right to education.

We are concerned by continuing restrictions on freedom of association, expression and religion or belief. We call on the Government of Eritrea to immediately release all prisoners detained for their religious beliefs, or for practising their right to expression or assembly.

We reaffirm our support for the Special Rapporteur's mandate and ask whether the Eritrean Government has investigated any allegations of rape by Eritrean Defence Forces in Ethiopia.