Elizabeth Chyrum, also known as Elsa Chyrum, is an Eritrean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom (UK). For the past 26 years, she has been instrumental in raising awareness about the human rights abuses faced by Eritreans, including arbitrary detention, torture, and forced conscription, both within Eritrea and among Eritrean refugees and migrants.
Her journey as a human rights activist began in 1998 during the Ethio-Eritrea border war (1998-2000). During this conflict, over 70,000 Eritreans were forcibly deported from Ethiopia, enduring inhumane treatment including separation from families, confiscation of property, and forced separation of children from their parents. Witnessing these injustices and human rights abuses ignited her activism.
Following the war’s end in the summer of 2001, Elizabeth traveled to Eritrea where she witnessed the brutal treatment of over 2,000 Asmara University students. These students were rounded up, beaten, tortured, and detained in Wia, a harsh environment, simply for advocating for their rights. The torture led to the immediate death of two students while many others were injured. The students were released after three months under restrictive conditions.
Since then, the human rights situation in Eritrea has continued to deteriorate. Elizabeth is a dedicated advocate for the rights and protection of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, raising awareness about the challenges they face, particularly those fleeing conflict, persecution, or violence.
"Many Eritreans suffer due to a lack of basic freedoms and oppressive policies. These experiences instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility to fight for justice and equality. My passion is driven by an unwavering belief that everyone deserves to live with dignity, freedom, and respect, and by the hope that my efforts can contribute to positive change in Eritrea." .
In 2005, Elizabeth founded Human Rights Concern Eritrea (HRCE), an independent non-profit human rights organisation based in the UK. HRCE is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of Eritreans both at home and abroad in response to widespread human rights violations in Eritrea.
"Due to the dire human rights situation in Eritrea, I have met many Eritreans who have endured harsh imprisonment and torture for speaking out against authorities and who have managed to flee the country. Their resilience and courage in the face of severe punishment and persecution have deeply moved me. These encounters reinforced my belief in the power of individual stories to drive change and inspired me to focus my activism on amplifying the voices of those who are silenced, including the thousands who have been imprisoned without due process and the broader injustices suffered by the Eritrean people" .
Elizabeth’s bravery and persistence have elevated HRCE to a pivotal position advocating for Eritrean human rights and a fairer future for all Eritreans. She played a significant role in the establishment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea in 2012. Additionally, she was instrumental in the establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in Eritrea in 2014-2016, which aimed to investigate systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights in the country with a view of ensuring full accountability.
Her human rights activism work for the last 26 years has been far from rosy, but her steadfast hope for change in Eritrea and the support of a community of like-minded individuals have kept her going.
There have been many challenging moments, but the resilience and courage of the people I advocate for continually inspire me. Their stories of survival and resistance fuel my determination. Additionally, the small victories along the way reinforce my belief that our efforts are making a difference.
Elizabeth envisions a future for human rights in Eritrea where every Eritrean enjoys fundamental freedoms without fear of persecution, where the rule of law prevails, and where freedoms of expression, press, belief, and assembly are protected. Her vision extends beyond Eritrea to encompass the entire region, where authorities are accountable to their constituents, justice is accessible to all, and human dignity is valued and upheld. Achieving this vision, according to her, requires ongoing activism, international solidarity, and empowering and educating citizens to demand their rights.