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Enslaved by their Own Government: Indefinite National Service in Eritrea

Arapiles, Sara LU (2023) p.195-254
Abstract
Eritreans are currently forcefully conscripted into national service, which is indefinite and requires them to engage in tasks that are beyond a ‘purely military character’. These include economic development activities, work for private companies and even domestic work for their superiors, for which they receive little or no pay. Deserting or evading national service is heavily punished and refugees describe being tortured and detained in inhumane conditions. The control exercised over conscripts deprives them of their individual liberty and autonomy, leaving many in a state of ‘false consciousness’, even years after having left Eritrea. This enables the government to exercise 'powers attaching to the right of ownership’ over them. This... (More)
Eritreans are currently forcefully conscripted into national service, which is indefinite and requires them to engage in tasks that are beyond a ‘purely military character’. These include economic development activities, work for private companies and even domestic work for their superiors, for which they receive little or no pay. Deserting or evading national service is heavily punished and refugees describe being tortured and detained in inhumane conditions. The control exercised over conscripts deprives them of their individual liberty and autonomy, leaving many in a state of ‘false consciousness’, even years after having left Eritrea. This enables the government to exercise 'powers attaching to the right of ownership’ over them. This chapter finds that this level of control constitutes slavery under international law. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Human rights, Slavery, Eritrea, Refugees, Mänskliga rättigheter
host publication
Enslaved Trapped and Trafficked in Digital Black Hole: Human Trafficking Trajectories to Libya
editor
van Reisen, Mirjam ; Mawere, Munyaradzi ; Smits, Klara and Wirtz, Morgane
pages
59 pages
publisher
Langaa RPCIG
ISBN
9789956553129
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
483c227b-9eb8-484b-bfa1-4c79da4b80a9
alternative location
https://ssrn.com/abstract=4335096
date added to LUP
2024-04-17 10:23:33
date last changed
2025-06-20 10:27:17
@inbook{483c227b-9eb8-484b-bfa1-4c79da4b80a9,
  abstract     = {{Eritreans are currently forcefully conscripted into national service, which is indefinite and requires them to engage in tasks that are beyond a ‘purely military character’. These include economic development activities, work for private companies and even domestic work for their superiors, for which they receive little or no pay. Deserting or evading national service is heavily punished and refugees describe being tortured and detained in inhumane conditions. The control exercised over conscripts deprives them of their individual liberty and autonomy, leaving many in a state of ‘false consciousness’, even years after having left Eritrea. This enables the government to exercise 'powers attaching to the right of ownership’ over them. This chapter finds that this level of control constitutes slavery under international law.}},
  author       = {{Arapiles, Sara}},
  booktitle    = {{Enslaved Trapped and Trafficked in Digital Black Hole: Human Trafficking Trajectories to Libya}},
  editor       = {{van Reisen, Mirjam and Mawere, Munyaradzi and Smits, Klara and Wirtz, Morgane}},
  isbn         = {{9789956553129}},
  keywords     = {{Human rights; Slavery; Eritrea; Refugees; Mänskliga rättigheter}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{195--254}},
  publisher    = {{Langaa RPCIG}},
  title        = {{Enslaved by their Own Government: Indefinite National Service in Eritrea}},
  url          = {{https://ssrn.com/abstract=4335096}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}