Eritrea, known officially as the State of Eritrea, is in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea's geographical position makes it one of the countries in the region with a coastline along the Red Sea where it's home to a rich tapestry of ethnic groups, including the Tigrinya, Tigre, and Saho peoples.

Eritrea's religious makeup is equally diverse, with most of the population adhering to Orthodox Christianity and various Protestant denominations. There is a significant Muslim minority, and indigenous African belief systems create a mix of cultures and faiths, contributing to the country's unique identity.

The legal system in Eritrea is based on a combination of Civil Law and Customary Law, which overlap, especially in family matters relating to marriage and inheritance.

Like many other nations, Eritrea inherited colonial-era laws from its historical ruling countries, including Italy. Although suicide was decriminalised in Italy in 1889 the offence has remained in the corpus of other laws around the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for the decriminalisation of suicide and suicide attempts. Finding out more and removing such laws removes stigma and allows avenues for providing appropriate mental health support to individuals in crisis.

Criminalising suicide punishes distress. Decriminalising suicide saves lives.