Luwam Mebrahtu

Human Rights Defender

Greetings and welcome to my page! My name is Luwam Mebrahtu, a human rights educator and activist passionate about promoting and advocating for human rights in North East Africa, with a particular focus on Eritrea. Currently, I am pursuing studies in human rights at the University of Padova, where I have developed a profound understanding of the significance of social justice and the importance of safeguarding human rights.

Having worked previously as a teacher and head of the Women Empowerment Program at Warsay Yikalo Secondary School Sawa, Eritrea, and through my studies, I have gained firsthand knowledge of the numerous human rights cases of abuse that occur in Eritrea, including political oppression, arbitrary detention, restrictions on freedom of expression, sexual abuse, forced labor, and religious oppression.

During my two-year tenure at Warsay Yikalo Secondary School Sawa, located in a military camp in Eritrea, I encountered several challenges. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to prevent multiple instances of sexual abuse, harsh treatment, and neglect perpetrated against underage women by their instructors and government policies. Witnessing my students' suffering, including physical, emotional, psychological, and social neglect, was profoundly distressing.

My experience at Sawa Secondary School inspired me to pursue further education and deepen my understanding of human rights violations. However, due to the risk of imprisonment and mistreatment, I was unable to advocate for my students and my own rights. Therefore, I made the difficult decision to flee my country, family, and community and undertake the perilous journey across the border to Ethiopia, where I sought international protection and began a new life as a refugee, driven by hope for a better future.

With a view to raising awareness of these issues and facilitating positive change, I created this website as a platform to discuss human rights in Eritrea and the wider region. I strongly believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of their background or beliefs. Through collective action and raising our voices against injustice, we can contribute to creating a world where human rights are protected and upheld for all. Thank you for visiting my website, and I hope you will join me in advocating for human rights in North East Africa.