How UN Failed Victims of Ethiopian Crisis: Christian Human Rights Group

“There remains a need for independent investigation of, and accountability for, atrocities committed during the war in Tigray, and ongoing violations in occupied areas of that region,” Ms. Denman said in a Thursday, October 12 October 12 report.

She added, “Regrettably, the victims have been badly let down by the international community.”

Violent conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region started in November 2020 when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) allegedly launched an attack on Ethiopia’s Federal Government Army base in the region.

Since then, more than two million people have reportedly fled their homes, with thousands fleeing into Sudan; the war has left at least 2.3 million in need of assistance. There is also a possibility that over 600,000 people have died in the conflict.

On 2 November 2022, a peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and TPLF was reached in Pretoria, South Africa, in which the two parties pledged to “permanently silence the guns and end the two years of conflict in northern Ethiopia”.

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Despite the peace agreement, which allowed access to Tigray, the humanitarian crisis has not abated. 

Fighting broke out again when the federal government clashed with the Fano militia group in the Amhara region. The group, which previously allied with the government against Tigrayan forces, alleges that Addis Ababa has neglected the region’s security amid efforts to assert federal authority and integrate regional forces into the military. 

The UNHRC adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Ethiopia on 17 December 2021.

It included the establishment of an international commission of human rights experts to investigate alleged violations of international law by all parties to the conflict in Tigray.

The resolution was adopted at a Special Session convened in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia, following a request of the Permanent Mission of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union, which was supported by 17 HRC Member States and 38 Observer States.

The session concluded with the adoption of a resolution mandating an international commission of three human rights experts to thoroughly and impartially investigate alleged violations of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law committed since 3 November 2020 by all parties to the conflict. 

The resolution was adopted by vote, with 21 in favor, 15 against, and 11 abstentions.

However, the European Union and its members reportedly backtracked on their support for continued international scrutiny of the situation in Ethiopia.

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