As a matter of personal opinion, I think that giving more access to some of these other groups that have credibility and so on would probably do the country of Eritrea—not necessarily the government, but the country—a service in the sense that additional people seeing with their own eyes would create perhaps a less contested view of what the situation is on the ground. I hope that the precedent that has been set through this will in some way open the door and maybe create a bit of comfort that the sky is not going to fall if you let a human rights expert into the country.
From my general understanding, this hasn't been pursued, but the UN agencies have been encouraged by a step made by the Government of Eritrea to re-enter into negotiations with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights capacity building, which would probably give access to them. They would be, obviously, a very credible organization to work with the government and to do monitoring activities. I hope that goes forward.
In terms of my own personal view and trying to ensure that, as I said before, I didn't have the wool pulled over my eyes, it's continuing the engagement with some of the NGO groups that do claim to be in contact with some people who may have escaped the country or left the country voluntarily.
You said it's important on matters of rights to have clarity. What I'm dealing with is issues in a fairly broad span. I wasn't dealing with any specific cases. Those would be most appropriately dealt with through some forum for access to remedy, whether it be the company's own grievance mechanisms or some other external mechanism here in Canada. We have a number of outward-facing mechanisms for complaints to be brought forward about Canadian companies. That's where I think it would be most appropriate to get to clarity and truth around specific allegations or concerns.
Finally, I just hope that there is more access, and either I will be confirmed or contradicted in what I was able to observe.