ICERAS

The Government of Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3. During the reporting period, there was a government policy or pattern of forced labor in its compulsory National Service, local citizen militia, and in public works projects. The government continued to exploit its nationals in forced labor, via its compulsory National Service and local citizen militia, by forcing them to serve for indefinite or otherwise arbitrary periods. Officials did not demobilize most individuals from government work units after their mandatory period of service but rather forced citizens to serve indefinitely under threats of detention, torture, or familial reprisal. Additionally, the government directed policies that perpetuated the mobilization of children for forced labor in public works projects, usually in the agricultural sector, during the student summer work program locally known as Maetot. The government did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking. readmore