HRC 51 - EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue with the International Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia

HRC 51 - EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue with the International Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia

Mr. President,

The EU thanks the Commission for its important work and for the report.

Fighting has resumed in northern Ethiopia ending a 5 months' humanitarian truce declared in March 2022. The EU remains firmly convinced that there is no military solution to the conflict.

In this vein, the EU welcomes the establishment of a peace committee in June and the stated commitment by the Government of Ethiopia to engage into AU-led peace negotiations. The announcement by the Government of Tigray on 11 September of its commitment to an African Union-led peace process is also encouraging.

The EU encourages parties to the conflict to seize the opportunity to immediately end hostilities and engage in direct talks with the aim of reaching a formal ceasefire agreement and a permanent political solution.

The EU is deeply concernedabout the humanitarian situation, further exacerbated by the resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia. Unhindered humanitarian access and delivery of humanitarian aid to all affected communities must be ensured, as well as the conditions for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns or relocations of displaced persons. Humanitarian workers must be protected and essential services must be restored.

The EU is appalled by the gravity and scale of human rights violations and abuse, perpetrated by all parties to the conflict, since its beginning. This includes widespread sexual and gender-based violence, ethnic violence, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary arrests, attacks on civilians, forcible displacement of civilians, pillaging and looting. This must stop immediately.

It is paramount to establish facts and ensure international scrutiny; comprehensive, independent and transparent investigations into all allegations of violations and abuse of international law must be undertaken. Full accountability and justice for the victims are essential for durable peace.

The EU welcomes the Ethiopian Government's willingness to meet with the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia and encourages all parties involved in the conflict to provide the necessary cooperation to the Commission including unconditional access to conflict affected areas. The EU also welcomes the steps taken by the Ethiopian Government in implementing the recommendations of the Joint Investigation undertaken by the OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and the efforts of the inter-ministerial task force to ensure an accountability process.

The EU calls on all parties involved in the conflict to cooperate with the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts and allow independent investigations and accountability mechanisms, as a complement to ongoing national efforts. This international mechanism together with the Joint Investigation contributes to building trust in the accountability process and to preventing further atrocities.

Commissioners:

How would you describe the cooperation with the Government of Ethiopia thus far?

Thank you.