Delegation of the European Union to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva
21.09.2023
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva
United Nations Human Rights Council
54th session
Interactive Dialogue with the International Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia
September 2023
EU Intervention
Mr. President,
The EU thanks the Commission for its update and reiterates its strong support for the work of the experts.
The EU welcomes the steps taken to date to implement the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities signed on November 2nd 2022 in Pretoria and the Declaration of the Senior Commanders on the Modalities for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement signed on November 12th in Nairobi. We call for further progress on the implementation of both agreements, the immediate cessation of all ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, continued and unimpeded humanitarian access and the further expansion of basic services in conflict-affected areas in northern Ethiopia.
In order to fight impunity and hold to account those responsible for crimes committed, independent, transparent and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law, and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law, are urgent and essential. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the OHCHR and the Commission have all been providing valuable input in this regard. The EU stresses the importance of ensuring immediate engagement of judicial procedures on the most pressing cases related to the conflict in northern Ethiopia and to ensure the safeguarding of evidence for future prosecution.
The EU is seriously concerned about the issues reported by the Commission as well as those in other recent reports of ongoing human rights violations and abuses committed throughout the country notably in the Amhara and Oromia Regional States, including the appalling level of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. The EU joins the African Union, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission in calling for the protection of civilians, and for constructive dialogue aiming at ending the violence and finding political solutions for these crises.
Looking forward, the EU welcomes the commitment expressed by the Government of Ethiopia to implement a comprehensive national transitional justice policy. Credible transitional justice and accountability processes are crucial to ensure lasting peace and reconciliation. We encourage the Government of Ethiopia to increase its efforts in advancing the Policy Options for Transitional Justice contained in its green paper on transitional justice, in accordance with international human rights’ norms and standards and supported by an international component, such as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR). Active, constructive and effective cooperation with national and international human rights mechanisms on both accountability and transitional justice is central to achieving the minimum legal standards underpinning the pillars of transitional justice – truth, justice, reparation and the guarantees of non-recurrence. In this regard, Ethiopia could consider the benefits of the Council’s support to further strengthen OHCHR’s capacity-building and technical assistance to the country.
Commissioners,
What benchmarks would you suggest to ensure that any future transitional justice policy meets international and regional standards?
Thank you.