Speier, Frankel, Bass, and Jacobs Introduce Resolution Condemning Sexual, Gender-based Violence Against Women and Girls in Ethiopia Conflict

The Members, joined by 42 of their House colleagues, urged the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to condemn sexual and gender-based violence and hold all perpetrators accountable. They also asked President Biden to ensure accountability for human rights abuses against civilians, particularly women and girls, and to direct the State Department and USAID to leverage existing programs to provide support to survivors, local organizations that provide relief, and the UN in establishing coordination to create a comprehensive prevention, mitigation, and response system to sexual and gender-based violence.

"The loathsome and misogynistic abuse of women and girls in Ethiopia is reprehensible and must be condemned by all parties involved, the U.S., and the global community to ensure that it stops. Reports of gang raping, genital burning, and sexual slavery are widespread. The UNFPA projects as many as 22,5000 survivors may seek clinical care, but they face the additional burden of a lack of access to health care facilities. The lack of health care, humanitarian aid, and media coverage of the conflict also stands in the way of women and girls getting the help and support they desperately need and must have," Rep. Speier said. "The governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea must work to hold all perpetrators accountable for their vile crimes against humanity and make clear to all parties in the conflict that such atrocities will be punished. And the United States must do everything it can to ensure accountability for these human rights abuses."

"The reports of sexual and gender-based violence and blockades on humanitarian aid in northern Ethiopia are horrific. The United Nations, the U.S. State Department, and USAID must support the women and girls suffering from these attacks," Rep. Frankel said. "This resolution shines a spotlight on these atrocities and urges the United States, in addition to the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, to hold all perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence accountable."

"I condemn these atrocities being perpetrated in Ethiopia. All parties to the conflict should issue clear and public instructions to armed forces and groups that any form of sexual and gender-based violence is prohibited and punishable by law," Rep. Bass said. "I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, which also urges President Biden to ensure accountability for all human rights abuses against civilians, particularly women and girls. The State Department and USAID must also leverage existing programs to provide support to survivors, support local organizations who provide relief, and support the UN in establishing a coordination mechanism to ensure a comprehensive strategy for prevention, mitigation, and response to sexual and gender-based violence."

"I am sickened by the accounts of systemic sexual and gender-based violence in Ethiopia. Women and girls in Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and elsewhere are suffering and need access to aid from the international community," Rep. Jacobs said. This resolution condemns these atrocities, the blockade of urgently needed assistance, and the deliberate and widespread attacks on health care. It also urges the United States and governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to hold perpetrators accountable. I thank Congresswoman Speier for her leadership on shining a light on these horrific crimes."

The resolution is supported by numerous human rights organizations, including the Women's Refugee Commission, Women Graduates USA, Last Mile4D, Vital Voices, International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law, Refugees International, Fos Feminista, Health Professionals Network for Tigray, United Nations Associations USA/Iowa Division, Population Institute, Billions Bz, Advocacy Network for Africa, and Alliance for Peacebuilding.

"As is all too frequent in conflict, parties are deliberately using sexual violence to intimidate and humiliate their enemy. These atrocities leave survivors with severe trauma and fear for generations to come. The Women's Refugee Commission welcomes congressional action in condemning this humanitarian and human rights nightmare and we thank Congresswomen Speier, Frankel, Bass, and Jacobs for leading this effort. We urge President Biden and all parties to the conflict to immediately take up the recommendations laid out in the resolution. We must ensure aid reaches and meets the full range of needs for survivors - comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including access to safe abortion, psychosocial services, and clinical management of rape - as part of humanitarian response. These services are life-saving and must be prioritized," said Gayatri Patel, Vice President of External Relations, Women's Refugee Commission.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Reps. Colin Allred (TX-32), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Julia Brownley (CA-26), André Carson (IN-07), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), David Cicilline (RI-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Luis Correa (CA-46), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-03), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Andy Levin (MI-09), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-06), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

A copy of the resolution can be found here.