The Ethiopian Government Falls Short on Protecting Human Rights
Posted by miharbi on December 13 2009 11:22:36
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Ethiopia was held at the 16th meeting on 9 December 2009. The delegation of Ethiopia was headed by Ambassador Fisseha Yimer, Special Adviser to the Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs. At its 17th meeting held on 11 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Ethiopia.
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The Ethiopian Government Falls Short on Protecting Human Rights
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Ethiopia was held at the 16th meeting on 9 December 2009. The delegation of Ethiopia was headed by Ambassador Fisseha Yimer, Special Adviser to the Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs. At its 17th meeting held on 11 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Ethiopia.
It is disappointing that even though in one hand the Government of Ethiopia wants to promote and implement instruments to protect human right and allow visits to come into the country to investigate any violations, it rejected key recommendations that would enforce such issues. For example, the Government of Ethiopia rejected the following recommendations: “Issue an open-ended and standing invitation to all special procedure; and more specifically respond positively to the requests for visits by the Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on the right to education, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteurs on torture and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (Spain)”, “Extend a standing invitation to all United Nations special procedures mandate-holders (Slovenia)”, “Consider receiving the Special Rapporteurs of the human rights Council in Ethiopia (Norway)”, and “Take effective measures, in line with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to protect all children from torture, cruel and degrading treatment, particularly from members of the military (Germany)”.
One of the territories that the Working Group focused on 9 December 2009 is the Ogaden territory-also known as Somali Region. Many countries remarked that they are concerned regarding human right violations and lack of access into the territory: “United States of America was concerned that Ethiopia has not allowed the ICRC to operate in the Ogaden since 2008 and that other organizations have found access limited”, “Belgium stated the reticence of authorities to ensuring access of the international community to the Ogaden Region”, “France asked Ethiopia about the establishment of an independent inquiry commission on alleged human rights violations in Ogaden in 2005 and in context of the April 2007 offensive”, “Ireland noted concerns in relation to the allegations of human rights abuses in the Somali region and enquired whether Ethiopia was open to an independent international monitoring visit to the region to investigate these allegations and issues of humanitarian access, visits of any special procedure mandate-holder”.
In spite of all of this, the Ethiopian government rejected the recommendations that concerned this territory and to allow any access for humanitarian aid or assistance: “Allow for greater humanitarian access to the Ogaden so that organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations relief agencies can provide assistance to victims of conflict (Unites States)”, “Undertake credible and independent investigations of alleged human rights violations in the Somali Region (United Kingdom)”, “Authorise the launching of an independent international inquiry on the allegations on the violations of human rights in the Somali region since 2007, and bring those responsible to justice (Switzerland)”.
However, African Rights Monitor-ARM was encouraged to see that the Government of Ethiopia accepted 97 recommendations, among them “Strengthen instruments to protect human rights which could positively improve social, economic and cultural rights”, “Consider responding affirmatively to the visits requested by human rights mandate-holders for visits by mandate-holders”. Although acceptance of these 97 ancillary recommendations are in direct contradiction of the key recommendations that will have impacted the human rights situation on the ground that Ethiopian government refused.
As human right defenders, ARM urges the Ethiopian government to accept the recommendations concerning the implementation regarding protecting the human rights of its citizens and allowing the investigation of allegations regarding such violations. In addition, ARM appeals to the Working Group to ensure that the rights of all people in Ethiopia are respected and protected and access must be opened so the flow of aid can reach the women and children who are in a dire need and are suffering horrific malnutrition.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/ETSession6.aspx
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