A/HRC/23/53 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 20/20, the Human Rights Council expressed deep concern at the ongoing reports of grave violations of human rights by the Eritrean authorities against their own population and fellow citizens, and decided to appoint a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea for a period of one year. The Council requested the Special Rapporteur to submit a report at its twenty-third session. It also called upon the Government of Eritrea to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, to permit access to visit the country and to provide the information necessary for the fulfilment of the mandate. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea took up her mandate on 1 November 2012. 2. In its resolution 21/1, the Human Rights Council decided that documentation considered by the Council under its complaint procedure relating to the situation of human rights in Eritrea should be transmitted to the Special Rapporteur. The Council invited the Special Rapporteur to investigate further the allegations contained in the submitted complaints and the circumstances of the individuals mentioned in the submitted communications and to report thereon to the Council at its twenty-third session. 3. The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions 20/20 and 21/1, and is based upon the initial observations made by the Special Rapporteur. II. Approach to the mandate 4. In the view of the Special Rapporteur, the mandate offers the potential for Eritrea to be closely involved in efforts to ensure that long-lasting solutions compliant with international standards are found for the respect and observance of human rights in the country, a message that she reiterated in her meetings with all interlocutors, including Eritrean officials. 5. The Special Rapporteur endeavoured to implement the mandate in a constructive, transparent, independent and impartial manner, aiming at contributing to strengthening the respect for the human rights of all Eritreans. 6. Despite the lack of access to Eritrea, as well as other obstacles and challenges, the Special Rapporteur reached out to a broad range of stakeholders in the preparation of the present report. In the implementation of her mandate, she is committed to giving a voice to Eritreans who have experienced violations directly or indirectly and whose fundamental freedoms and human rights have been breached. 7. The approach adopted by the Special Rapporteur was prudently optimistic, in that she refused to be daunted by the non-cooperation of the Government of Eritrea with the mandate and the difficulties in obtaining information from and about Eritrea. She has also endeavoured to make the mandate firm and bold, addressing squarely the issues that were raised by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 20/20. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur views the mandate as incremental, setting down the foundations and then the building blocks aiming at the full respect of international human rights law, with each small step being celebrated as an achievement. In her concluding remarks, the Special Rapporteur identifies specific areas to be addressed in the medium term, as well as recommendations for the Government of Eritrea and the international community. 3