Babylon

Eritrea Expertise Center / Eritrea Expertise Centrum

The Eritrea Expertise Centre provides expertise on Eritrea and the Eritrean diaspora to governments, regional and local councils, international organizations, law enforcement institutions, lawyers and courts. The centre employs an academic approach to assist reliable information is available on dynamic and evolving trends in Eritrea and the Eritrean diaspora.

The centre is chaired by Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Reisen, a renowned expert on Eritrea. The centre has a qualified team of recognized academics and researchers with expertise on Eritrea at its disposal. The experts also engage with other experts at the global level. The experts are the following:

  • Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Reisen (Chair), Eritrea expert;
  • Prof. Dr Conny Rijken, National Commissioner on Human Trafficking and specialist on human trafficking from Eritrea;
  • Emiritus Prof. Dr Sjaak Kroon, a language specialist on Eritrea;
  • Dr. Selam Kidane, a specialist on trauma among Eritrean refugees;
  • Dr. Makeda Saba, a specialist on the churches in Eritrea;
  • Dr. Bertha Vallejo, a specialist on refugees' education in the Horn;
  • Muluberhan Hagos, former High Court judge Eritrea and legal researcher;
  • Klara Smits, Human Trafficking from Eritrea and foreign state intervention, researcher;
  • Kristina Melicherova, Protection of Eritrean refugees in the Horn, researcher.

The point of contact for the Eritrea Extertise Centre is Prof. Dr Mirjam van Reisen: M.vanReisen@tilburguniversity.edu

Resources

Reports, books and chapters

DSP, Tilburg University. (2016). Eritrese Organisaties en Integratie: Niets is wat het lijkt. Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs. Amsterdam, Tilburg: DSP/Tilburg University.
English Summary

DSP, Tilburg University. (2017). The 2% Tax for Eritreans in the Diaspora: Facts, figures and experiences in seven European countries. Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amsterdam, Tilburg: DSP/Tilburg University.

Van Reisen, M., Smits, K. (2018). Eritrea en Eritrese Vluchtelingen. Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers (COA): the Netherlands

Van Reisen, M., Berends, E., Delecolle, L., Hagenberg, J., Trivellato, M. P., & Stocker, N. (2019). Refugees’ right to family unity in Belgium and the Netherlands: ‘Life is nothing without family’. In: Van Reisen, M., Mawere, M., Stokmans, M., & Gebre-Egziabher, K. A. (eds), Mobile Africa: Human Trafficking and the Digital Divide. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, pp. 449–493.

Van Reisen, M., Saba, M., & Smits, K. (2019). ‘Sons of Isaias’: Slavery and indefinite national service in Eritrea. In: Van Reisen, M., Mawere, M., Stokmans, M., & Gebre-Egziabher, K. A. (eds), Mobile Africa: Human Trafficking and the Digital Divide. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, pp. 115–157.

Selassie, B. & Van Reisen, M. (2019). Peace, but no progress: Eritrea, an unconstitutional state. In: Van Reisen, M., Mawere, M., Stokmans, M., & Gebre-Egziabher, K. A. (eds), Roaming Africa: Migration, Resilience and Social Protection. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, pp. 521–556.

Smits, K., & Wirtz, M. (2023). Escaping Eritrea: The Vulnerability of Eritreans to Human Trafficking. In: Van Reisen, M., Mawere M., Smits, K., & Wirtz, M. (eds), Enslaved Trapped and Trafficked in Digital Black Holes: Human Trafficking Trajectories to Libya. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa RPCIG, pp. 255-295.

Palacios-Arapiles, S. (2023). Enslaved by their Own Government: Indefinite National Service in Eritrea. In: Van Reisen, M., Mawere M., Smits, K., & Wirtz, M. (eds), Enslaved Trapped and Trafficked in Digital Black Holes: Human Trafficking Trajectories to Libya. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa RPCIG, pp. 195-254