HRC50: Oral statement during ID with Commission of Experts on Ethiopia

Item 4:ID with the Commission of Human Rights Experts on the situation in Ethiopia

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Ellis Heasley

Thank you Mr President,

CSW thanks the Commission of Experts for their briefing.

Tigray is among the world’s most pressing human rights crises. Essential services remain disrupted, with fuel and medicinal shortages forcing restrictions on services at three hospitals.

Supplies allowed through are insufficient for the vast needs. Consequently, at least 33,000 children in inaccessible areas reportedly face imminent death.

Widespread violations of freedom of religion or belief since 2020 include looting and shelling of churches and mosques, rape of nuns as part of an extensive and systematic sexual violence campaign, and deliberate targeting of clergy and congregations.

Massacres have occurred, including of 154 civilians at Maryam Dengelat Church in 2020, 48 Orthodox priests in a church in Adi Fetaw village in 2021, and around 78 clergy over a five month period in just one zone.

Furthermore, thousands of Tigrayans are held arbitrarily in makeshift prisons across the country where at least 17 have died.

Unchecked incitement of ethnic hatred, including by prominent officials, has encouraged deadly impunity of which the immolation of a young Tigrayan in Benishangul-Gumuz is an exemplar. It has also contributed to a giving rise to generalised intolerance.

On 18 June at least 200 people, mostly Amhara, were killed amid disputes regarding responsibility. Also lamentable are the extrajudicial killing in 2021 of 14 Oromo customary leaders, which highlighted the prevalence of summary executions.

Violations are continuing amidst shrinking press freedoms and the use of legal avenues to silence critics.

CSW calls for the immediate cessation of all hostilities, the complete departure of Eritrean forces, an arms embargo on all warring parties, the total lifting of the siege on Tigray, the restoration of its essential services, and the release of detained journalists.

Disputes surrounding the facts and circumstances of alleged violations underline the importance of an independence inquiry.

Thus, we also urge Ethiopia to cooperate with the Commission on ensuring transitional justice, accountability and reconciliation.

Thank you