Women at a safe house for survivors of sexual assault, in Mekele, Tigray, on February 27, 2021. PHOTO | FILE | AFP
The Ethiopian government has launched a taskforce to address the human rights violations in the Tigray conflict.
The rights violations were recorded earlier in the year in a previous joint investigation report between local and UN rights bodies.
The team, split in various committees, is supposed to use a “victim-centred approach”, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Justice.
“The Interministerial taskforce [is] to oversee the redress and accountability measures in response to human rights violations in the context of the conflict in northern Ethiopia,” the Ministry said.
Though no timelines were given, the taskforce will be split into four committees, including investigation and prosecution of culprits, addressing refugees and IDPs, sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as resource mobilisation to rebuild damaged infrastructure and livelihoods.
“The taskforce has directed all committees to adopt a victim-centred approach, focusing on the rights of the victims to know the truth, to seek and secure redress and the need to implement programmes of rehabilitation, restitution and compensation to the extent that resources permit,” the Ministry of Justice indicated.
The decision follows a report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which found that both the warring sides had committed atrocities, and there had been sexual violence, killings, displacements and damaged livelihoods, and lack of access to humanitarian aid.
The Ministry of Justice said it will work with local and international partners for technical assistance, but it was unclear if those investigations will reach the areas currently controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Since November 4 last year, the Ethiopian National Defence Forces have battled the TPLF, which the Ethiopian government labelled as terrorists after the group reportedly attacked a northern command of government forces.
Since then, some territories in neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions have changed hands several times in battle.
From October, the TPLF announced an alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). And in spite of calls for ceasefire and dialogue, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced he would join the frontline from last week, signalling continued fighting.
On Tuesday, his office said the war will end if the TPLF and allied armed groups surrender peacefully to Ethiopian authorities.
Meanwhile, the UN says more than one million people are still facing severe food shortage as aid routes to the region are still blocked.
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