The African Development Bank is supporting member countries to develop gender profiles toassist gender mainstreaming in Regional Member Countries. The gender- profile identifiesgender related policy and programme interventions, which lead to poverty alleviation, economicgrowth and human development.

In 2005, the estimated population was 4 401 000 people, of which 2 241 000 were female and 2 161 000 were male. In 2005, the national population density averaged 29 people per square kilometer; however, in the highlands, density reached 200 people per square kilometer. In the same year, 3 485 000 people lived in rural areas, while 916 000 lived in urban areas.

The population is culturally and linguistically diverse, consisting of nine ethnic groups: Tigrigna account for 50 percent of the total population, Tigre and Kunama for 40 percent, Afar for 4 percent, Saho for 3 percent and Hidareb, Bilen, Nara and Rashaida for the remaining share.

An overwhelming endorsement of Eritrean independence emerged as the outcome of thereferendum held in Eritrea in April 1993. This referendum, supported and observed by theUN, marked the end of a thirty year long independence struggle against the Ethiopian regimeof Emperor Haile Selassie and subsequently President Mengistu from 1974-1991. Womenwere active as combatants in the military struggle and in a variety of supporting roles. Theyalso participated in the programme of political mobilisation and social reform which formedan integral part of the liberation struggle. These reforms to some degree challenged preexistinginstitutions of gender subordination in Eritrean society and led to considerable gainsfor Eritrean women.

Agriculture and pastoralism are the main source of livelihood for about 80% of Eritrea’s population, with women playing a vital role as farmers and producers.1 Women’s land and property rights generally enjoy de jure protection in Eritrea. For example, as is highlighted in the State party report, Proclamation No. 58/1994 on Land Tenure aims to abolish the traditional land tenure system and gives equal entitlement and ownership right for women to land. Land has been allotted on a household level with both spouses owning land, and approximately 30% of female headed families have been entitled to land.2

Eritrea, a small emergent nation is strategically situated in the eastern part of Africa, which hasjoined the international community in 1993. In 1991 Eritrea was liberated after an arduous armedstruggle against Ethiopian colonialism which lasted thirty years. The socio economic formationof the Eritrean society, encompasses more than 60% agro-pastoralists, the rest workers,merchants, students and professionals. In Eritrea there are nine ethnic groups, each having itsown language. The literacy rate is still low at 50%. Women’s role in the society which had beenvalued less due to traditional patriarchal attitudes is in the process of change.

The Eritrean Constitution, ratified in 1997, guarantees equal rights for women and men. Inaddition to the supreme principle enshrined in the Constitution prohibiting discrimination onaccount of race, ethnic origin, language, colour, gender, religion, disability, age, politicalview, social or economic status, various articles in the Constitution grant equal rights towomen, as men, with regard to such key issues as land ownership, family and marriage,equality before the law, inheritance and passing on citizenship to their children.With regard to family and marriage, for example, the Constitution asserts that: “Men andwomen of full legal age shall have the right, upon their consent, to marry and to found afamily freely, without any discrimination and they shall have equal rights and duties as to allfamily affairs.”

This report will focus on the linkage between gender and violence againstgirls in Eritrea. Attention is given to the manner in which gender and ageshape the form of violence, the circumstances in which this violenceoccurs and its consequences. Specific attention is given to domestic violence;traditional practices that violate the human rights of girls, includingfemale genital mutilation; rape; child soldiers and girls in emergency situations.

The study on women and land in five countries of the Eastern Africa Sub-region commissioned byEASSI was prompted by the concern over the lack of ownership of land by the majority ofwomen in the region. While the majority of women in Sub-saharan Africa and particularly EasternAfrican region edge a living for their families on land, they largely do not own this land. In somecases women are treated as labourers on the land who can be disposed of anytime the landlordschoose to.

It has been six years since Eritrea emerged from a lengthy war which claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 Eritreans and displaced over 500,000 others. In addition, it dismantled the social fabric and left behind some 90,000 orphans and over 10,000 disabled persons. During the war, women composed over thirty percent of these on the battlefront, as commando and assault troops, as tank drivers, truck drivers, mechanics, doctors, and teachers.

The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) was firmly committed to women’s emancipation and supported women’s rights to participate as free individuals in the struggle and the construction of a new Eritrea on an equal footing with men.