Ambassador Media | June 15, 2024
Addis Abeba – A new report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) paints a grim picture of Ethiopia’s human rights landscape in 2023, revealing a significant surge in violence and abuses across the country. The findings indicate that government-affiliated forces were allegedly responsible for a staggering 70% of all reported violations.
According to the 24-page report, 594 incidents of human rights violations and abuses affected 8,253 individuals last year, marking a 55.9% increase compared to 2022. While the Tigray region saw improvements following the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), the situation in Amhara and Oromia deteriorated sharply.
The report attributes the majority of the violations to state actors, including the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), federal and regional police, and affiliated militias, impacting over 7,100 victims. Non-state armed groups were responsible for 22.3% of the violations, with 25 incidents reportedly carried out by the Eritrean Defense Forces in Tigray.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed the urgency of addressing the crisis through political dialogue and rights-based approaches. “The ongoing violations underscore the urgent need for prioritizing political solutions and human rights to achieve peace and accountability in Ethiopia,” he stated.
The OHCHR has called on the international community to support Ethiopia’s peace process by promoting accountability mechanisms, backing peaceful negotiations, and providing resources for humanitarian relief and post-conflict recovery.
The report underscores the critical need for the Ethiopian government to fully implement the Pretoria Peace Agreement and guarantee economic, social, and cultural rights for all citizens, especially those in conflict-affected areas.
