እዚ  ፐቲሽን'ዚ መቀጸልታ ናይ'ቲ ዝሓለፈ ዝገብርናዮ  ግብረ መልሲ ድሕሪ ምርካብና ዝተዳለወ  ሓድሽ ፐቲሽን እዩ። ኣብቲ መወዳዕታ እቲ ፌርማ ከም ኣማራጺ ዘምጽኣልኩም ክፍሊት ከም ምርጫኩም ኮይኑ፡ እዚ  ናይ ፐቲሽን ፌርማ ግና ናብ ኩሉ ንኽባጻሕ  ኣካፍልዎ/ኣባዝሕዎ። 

To: The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Board

We, the undersigned, write to express our deep concern over the appointment of Ms. Sophia Tesfamariam, Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as Vice President of UNICEF’s Executive Board for 2025.

As part of our due diligence, Da’erona Eritrean Worldwide Community reached out to UNICEF regarding this matter. In response,UNICEF clarified that it does not influence such appointments, as they are determined by ECOSOC elections and regional group nominations. According to UNICEF’s reply, Eritrea’s membership in the UNICEF Executive Board was the result of ECOSOC elections held on April 9, 2024, and December16, 2024, while Ms. Tesfamariam’s nomination as Vice President was put forth by the African Group in September 2024 and endorsed by the Executive Board on January 10, 2025 (UNICEF Response via Plaut, 2025).

While we acknowledge the procedural aspects of this appointment, we strongly believe that Ms.Tesfamariam’s record and affiliations are incompatible with the values and mission of UNICEF, which is mandated to protect and promote the rights of children worldwide (UNCRC, 1989).

Concerns Over Ms. Tesfamariam’s Appointment

Defending a Regime Accused of Grave Human Rights Violations

1. Ms. Tesfamariam has been a staunch advocate of the Eritrean government, which has been widely condemned for systematic human rights abuses, including forced labor, child conscription, and suppression of fundamental freedoms (UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea,2023). The UN Human Rights Council has reported widespread and systematic human rights violations in Eritrea that may constitute crimes against humanity (UNHRC, 2016). The Human Rights Council’s commission of inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea has been documenting evidence-based reports showing violations committed in Eritrea that are ‘seldom seen in other countries’ since 19914-5. Ms. Tesfamariam has been a staunch defender of a regime by consistently denying the findings of rigorous human rights reports.It is difficult to reconcile how evidence-based research can guide the work of UNICEF if the organization’s leadership includes individuals who deny well-documented atrocities. This undermines the integrity of UNICEF and diminishes its ability to fulfill its mission of advocating for children’s rights.

2. Following the 2013 Lampedusa shipwreck, in which over 360 Eritrean refugees, many of them youths, drowned, Ms. Tesfamariam made insensitive remarks dismissing the victims as “rich kids with a lot of money” (BBC, 2013). Such a statement is not only factually incorrect but also demonstrates a callous disregard for the plight of Eritrean refugees, many of whom are unaccompanied minors fleeing conscription and repression (UNHCR, 2022).

3. Contradiction with UNICEF’s Mission 

UNICEF’s mandate is to ensure the well-being and rights of children, particularly those facing exploitation and displacement (UNICEF, 2023). By elevating a representative of a regime known for child exploitation, forced conscription, and systemic repression, the UN risks undermining its own credibility and betraying the trust of millions who depend on UNICEF’s advocacy.

Our Demands

In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge ECOSOC and the UN Executive Board to:

1.  Revoke Ms. Tesfamariam’s appointment as Vice President of UNICEF’s Executive Board considering her affiliations and public statements that contradict UNICEF’s core values.

2. Establish a more transparent vetting process for leadership roles within UN bodies, ensuring that appointed individuals have demonstrated a clear commitment to human rights, particularly child protection.

3. Engage with civil society organizations and human rights advocates to reinforce UNICEF’s mission and credibility in safeguarding the world’s most vulnerable children.

The international community expects the UN to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and human rights advocacy. Ms. Tesfamariam’s appointment raises significant ethical concerns and must be reconsidered in alignment with UNICEF’s fundamental principles.

We trust that you will take the necessary steps to ensure UNICEF remains a beacon of protection for children worldwide.

Sincerely,

Da'erona Eritrean Worldwide  Community 

References

1. BBC (2013). Lampedusa Shipwreck: Survivors’ Accounts. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24499890
2. OHCHR (2016). Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea (A/HRC/32/47).  https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session32/list-reports
3. OHCHR (2023). Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea.  https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-eritrea
4. Plaut, M. (2025). UNICEF’s Response on Sophia Tesfamariam’s https://martinplaut.com
5. UNHCR (2022). Eritrean Refugees and Their Protection Needs. https://www.unhcr.org
6. UNICEF (2023). Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. https://www.unicef.org/reports/core-commitments-children-humanitarian-action
7. UNCRC (1989). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instrumentsmechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child