UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

54^th session

General Debate Item 10 - Technical assistance and capacity-building

10 October 2023

Joint Statement

Mr. President,

I am making this statement on behalf of a group of 45 countries.

We are deeply concerned about the latest findings of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts in Ethiopia (ICHREE) and others that human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed in Ethiopia, notably in Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Oromia, and that the situation across the country continues to bear the risks of future atrocity crimes. The persistent presence of Eritrean troops in northern Ethiopia is also a cause of concern.

Credible transitional justice and accountability processes are crucial to ensuring lasting peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.

We acknowledge the steps taken to date but regret that the Government of Ethiopia did not see the benefits of requesting the Council's support to further strengthen the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to provide advice and technical assistance to the country. This would have sent a signal of strong commitment and transparent international cooperation.

We note the Government’s strong commitment to bring forward a solid Transitional Justice Policy Framework by November 2023 and expect the Government to fulfil that commitment.

We call upon the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that the future policy meets regional and international human rights standards. This includes the establishment of robust independent, impartial and transparent mechanisms to implement the transitional justice policy, preserve evidence, conduct investigations into all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, and prosecute those responsible.

The coming months are critical in terms of making tangible progress, in view also of the next session of this Council.

We call upon Ethiopia and the Office to swiftly deploy the full complement of international human rights monitors to northern Ethiopia to which the Government of Ethiopia agreed in March 2023.

We furthermore invite the High Commissioner to keep the Council updated on the assistance that his Office is providing, as well as on the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Investigative Team and the ICHREE.

The transitional justice and accountability process must not fail.