In its 3rd Ethiopia’s Annual Human Rights Situation Report (132 pages), covering the period from June 2023 to June 2024, EHRC on Friday said armed struggle is still a major cause of human rights violations in ethiopia, underscoring the urgent need for transparent, inclusive and credible solutions to end the crisis.
EHRC said the human rights violations are committed by government forces and armed militants in areas where active war is going on between federal army and armed militants otherwise known as ‘Fano’ forces.
The report noted that extrajudicial killings of civilians continue to be a concern during the reporting period in areas affected by ongoing or past armed conflicts and, in some cases, outside a context of conflict. This annual human rights situation report also raises the growing problem of kidnapping of civilians, including for ransom, as a grave concern in both Amhara and Oromia regions.
“Incidents of armed conflicts, attacks or violent clashes have been recorded in most parts of Ethiopia during the reporting period. Civilian suffering, including death and bodily injuries, resulting from measures taken by government forces or armed groups, remains the most pressing human rights concern,” it said.
The report also shows that human rights violations against civilians in the context of armed conflict are still concerning and in effect have become more widespread.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in armed conflict areas, particularly women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, are particularly vulnerable due to lack of adequate food and basic humanitarian assistance, disruption or interruption of health and education services and other social and economic problems, the report added.
MG/abj/APA