Elsa Chyrum, Director of Human Rights Concern- Eritrea, and a prominent human rights activist and advocate for Eritrean refugees all over the world, has been chosen as Woman of the Year 2012 by one of the main Eritrean websites, asmarino.com. The website notes that she has done much to help refugees stranded in the middle of nowhere; highlighted the lawlessness of mining companies and their use of forced labour in Eritrea; helped Eritreans in detention centersoutside the country; and generally brought to light the humanitarian plight of Eritreans inside and outside the country.

The website particularly noted Elsa Chyrum’s role in bringing about the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Eritrea. It says “Mrs. Chyrum has been advocating and lobbying at the Human Rights Council for recognition of the severe human rights crisis in Eritrea since September 2008. She is passionate about justice for Eritrea, and has doggedly campaigned for the appalling human rights record of Eritrea to come to the fore of the international agenda.” She was finally successful in her efforts last year despite the attempts of a six-man Eritrean delegation that included two ambassadors to stop her.

Four years’ of work culminated in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) appointing Ms. Beedwantee Keetharuth as Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Eritrea. Ms. Keetharuth recently issued a statement saying that she hoped “the Eritreangovernment would consider the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as an opportunity to start a fresh and constructive dialogue on the human rights issues that have been raised by the internationalcommunity and other stakeholders.” She is expected to present a report on Eritrea’s human rights situation to the Human Rights Council in June.

Asmerino.com identifies Elizabeth Chyrum’s selfless and hard work as having made this opportunity possible. It calls her a woman of determination, persistence and integrity who has achieved change for the better for many Eritreans in desperate situations, and calls her life an example to others. It concludes “she has been the recipient of humanitarian awards; she deserves many more.” –MFA

http://www.asmarino.com/editorial/1609-elizabeth-elsa-chyrum-a-woman-of-the-year-2012b