A/HRC/41/2 rights enshrined in the two most important international human rights conventions, namely, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Recommendations were noted because they were either framed in a prescriptive and presumptuous manner, failed to recognize and acknowledge the reality on the ground and the challenges faced by Eritrea, were presented in unqualified terms, or targeted important and highly valued programmes, including the national service. The association of national service with forced labour was unwarranted and unacceptable, and was an attempt at negating its critical role in national development and the survival of the country. In addition, there was a prevailing tendency to use the international human rights architecture for other objectives that underpinned some of the recommendations. There was also the tendency to focus on political and civil rights at the expense of the economic, social and cultural rights. In addition, existing commitments to regional and international instruments and the State’s legal, institutional and organizational capacity were also taken into account. Nevertheless, the Government remained open to implementing any of the noted recommendations that, in its view, will advance the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 808. Implementation of the recommendations would be undertaken solely on the basis of national ownership. The strategy for the implementation of the recommendations would envisage consolidating ongoing efforts to create a solid architecture for the coordination and follow-up to recommendations from the universal periodic review and from treaty bodies and aligning those recommendations with the national goals in the Framework for action plan (2019-2023). It would also envisage focusing on innovative approaches and best practices, and ensuring the availability of the resources needed for the implementation of the recommendations. All relevant stakeholders would be involved in the formulation of the action plan. 809. The work of the universal periodic review coordinating body would be supported by concrete planning and continuous assessment as well as formative and summative evaluations done in a systemic manner, maximizing the implementation of the recommendations from the review. 810. Since the review, the Government had initiated a new development road map. In addition, Eritrea had ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labourr, 1999, on 7 June, and engaged with the Human Rights Committee on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 811. The Horn of Africa was going through rapid changes with profound implication for the future of the region and the continent. The attainment of peace was the fruit of the resilience and sacrifices of the Eritrean people. At the regional level, Eritrea was working with other countries to build trust and move forward in consolidating the peace and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and partnership. This engagement was also extended to countries and organizations beyond its immediate boarders. 812. The delegation emphasised that it was critically important to have objective and realistic expectations on Eritrea. In this vein, the context, needs and ideals of human betterment, as well as the progress made by Eritrea in the difficult 20 years, ought to be recognized. The use of the recent attainment of peace in the region by some Member States to exert pressure on Eritrea, while ignoring the objective reality in the country, was unconstructive and unhelpful. 813. The delegation stated that it was time for the Human Rights Council to gain a better understanding of the reality on the ground in Eritrea and be mindful of the positive trajectory the country has embarked on, which should not be taken for granted. Eritrea 127