Despite the peace agreement signed in November last year, the Tigray region of Ethiopia continues to grapple with a disturbing surge in sexual assaults, according to a new study. The research, conducted by Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa, analyzed 304 randomly selected medical records from health centers in Tigray, uncovering at least 128 cases of sexual violence since the accord aimed at ending the two-year civil war.
Raising alarms among human rights advocates, rights campaigners have denounced a recent decision by the African Union's rights commission to halt its investigation into wartime abuses in Tigray. They argue that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights \"may have succumbed to undue political pressure from the Ethiopian government,\" stalling efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The study reveals that nearly all the attackers were identified by victims as members of military groups, often associated with Eritrea, although the recent peace deal did not include Eritrea’s participation. Disturbingly, 76 percent of victims reported being assaulted by multiple men, frequently three or more, and in 94 percent of cases, no condoms were used. Some women and girls were even abducted for repeated assaults, painting a grim picture of ongoing violence despite the end of active conflict.
\"The world has accountability mechanisms, but almost everything is in the hands of diplomats and politicians, which is a recipe for failure,\" stated Martin Witteveen, an international criminal law expert who previously worked with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. This sentiment underscores the frustration among activists who see little progress toward justice for the survivors of these heinous crimes.
As Ethiopia navigates these human rights challenges, the nation was also announced as an incoming member of the BRICS economic block, adding another layer to its complex political landscape. The intersection of economic integration and human rights issues will be crucial in shaping Ethiopia’s future trajectory on the global stage.
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Scores of sexual assaults in Ethiopia’s Tigray since peace agreement, study finds
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