The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) has expressed grave concern over the recent statement issued by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) detailing severe human rights violations in conflict-affected areas of the country.
The EHRC report has highlighted disturbing incidents of direct attacks on civilians, arbitrary arrests, property destruction, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other egregious abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law.
AHRE has vehemently condemned these atrocities, emphasizing that civilians should never be targets of violence. The organization has stressed that all parties involved in the conflict must prioritize the protection of civilians.
“We are deeply disturbed by the harrowing details contained in the EHRC report,” said the AHRE spokesperson. “Civilians caught in the crossfire of this conflict must be safeguarded, and those responsible for these abuses must be held accountable.”
AHRE has urged the government to promptly act to protect civilians from further harm and to uphold its obligations under international law by conducting fair and impartial investigations into the alleged violations. The organization has called for those found responsible to be held accountable through due judicial processes.
Furthermore, AHRE has expressed solidarity with the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), which has reported serious violations, such as threats, unlawful arrests, violence, restrictions on human rights activities, information limitations, office intrusions, property theft, and defamatory actions against its staff. According to EHRCO, these actions are part of a broader attempt to suppress civil society organizations operating in the human rights sector.
AHRE has called on the government to uphold and safeguard civic spaces, ensuring that human rights defenders can carry out their important work without fear of retaliation or intimidation.
“We urge all relevant stakeholders to take significant measures to restore peace and justice,” the AHRE spokesperson said. “The protection of human rights and the pursuit of accountability must be the top priorities in addressing this critical situation.”
