Tigray/Ethiopia: Distressing Reports of Sexual Violence, Killings, & Widespread destruction - OHCHR

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Tigray/Ethiopia: Distressing Reports of Sexual Violence, Killings, & Widespread destruction - OHCHR"
The topics: SOURCE: OHCHR CH -Excerpts from Press Conference In a statement read by a spokesperson, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called “for an urgent, objective, independent assessment of the facts on the ground in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.” In a video address from the Headquarters of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Geneva, the spokesperson for the OHCHR, Ravina Shamdasani said that “deeply distressing reports of sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial killings, widespread destruction and looting of public and private property by all parties continues to be shared. Credible information also continues to emerge about serious violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict in Tigray from November last year. Without prompt, impartial and transparent investigations, we fear that the violations will continue to be committed with impunity, and the situation will remain volatile for a long time to come.” “The UN Human Rights Office has been receiving information about ongoing fighting across the region, particularly in the centre of Tigray region, as well as incidents of looting. Reliable sources have shared information about the killing of eight protestors by security forces between 9 and 10 February in Adigrat, Mekelle, Shire and Wukro. More than 136 cases of rape have also been reported in hospitals in Mekelle, Ayder, Adigrat and Wukro in the east of Tigray region between December and January, with indications that there are many more such unreported cases,” Shamdasani said. The OHCHR found that war crimes and crimes against humanity, may have been committed by multiple actors, including: the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Eritrean armed forces, and Amhara Regional Forces and affiliated militia. “With multiple actors in the conflict, blanket denials and finger-pointing, there is a clear need for an objective, independent assessment of these reports – victims and survivors of these violations must not be denied their rights to the truth and to justice. We urge the Government of Ethiopia to grant our Office and other independent monitors access to the Tigray region,” Shamdasani said.


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