Europe’s Lost Opportunity: EU’s Failure to Uphold Human Rights in Ethiopia

EU Fails Ethiopia‘s Victims: No Action Following Scathing Report Highlighting UN’s Prevention Role

The European Union Backtracks on Support for Scrutiny in Ethiopia

The European Union and its member states have failed to renew their support for continued international scrutiny of the human rights situation in Ethiopia at the United Nations Human Rights Council. This decision comes in the wake of a scathing report by the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), which concluded that the conditions for atrocity crimes are present in Ethiopia. The experts also stressed the importance of the Human Rights Council in preventing such crimes and recommended continued international scrutiny and independent investigations into past and ongoing violations.

A Devastating Blow to Victims

The failure of EU members to renew the expert commission is a devastating blow to the numerous victims of atrocities in Ethiopia who had placed their hopes in the Commission. The Ethiopian government has consistently sought to avoid scrutiny by impeding the commission’s work. This lack of accountability has only enabled the human rights situation in the country to deteriorate further.

The EU‘s Previous Commitment to Justice and Accountability

Since the outbreak of conflict in northern Ethiopia in 2020, the EU has been at the forefront of advocating for justice and accountability for abuses by all sides. The EU played a leading role in establishing the expert commission in December 2021 and renewing its mandate in September 2022, despite opposition from the Ethiopian government. The EU has made it clear that the full spectrum of its development cooperation and economic support to Ethiopia would be tied to concrete progress on the implementation of a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

Ethiopia‘s Escalating Human Rights Crisis

The situation in Ethiopia has only worsened since the establishment of the expert commission. Clashes between the Ethiopian military and local militias, such as the Fano militia, have escalated, leading to unlawful killings, mass detentions, and reports of drone strikes targeting civilians. The human rights situation in Tigray remains dire, and abuses in the Oromia region are also on the rise. Despite these ongoing violations, Ethiopia‘s partners, including the EU, have allowed the country to drop off the Human Rights Council’s agenda.

The Consequences of Inaction

The EU‘s failure to renew the expert commission’s mandate and its lack of leadership in holding Ethiopia accountable for serious crimes will have serious consequences. It undermines the EU‘s credibility as a proponent for justice and human rights around the world. It also sends a message to other human rights violators that they can evade international scrutiny without consequence.

Editorial: The Importance of International Scrutiny

A Preventive Role for the Human Rights Council

The report by the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia highlighted the preventive role that the Human Rights Council can play in averting atrocity crimes. By conducting independent investigations and shining a light on human rights abuses, the Council can act as a deterrent against further violations. The failure to renew the expert commission’s mandate, therefore, represents a missed opportunity for the Council to fulfill its prevention mandate.

The Responsibility of EU Members

EU members bear a particular responsibility in ensuring international scrutiny and accountability for human rights violations in Ethiopia. The EU, as a collective entity, has emphasized the importance of justice and accountability in its relations with Ethiopia. However, individual member states, such as France and Germany, did not make serious diplomatic efforts to mobilize support for renewing the commission’s mandate or creating alternative follow-up mechanisms. This lack of action undermines the EU‘s collective commitment to justice and accountability.

Implications for the Future

The EU‘s inaction in Ethiopia sets a dangerous precedent. If the international community fails to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, it not only hinders the pursuit of justice for victims but also emboldens those responsible for the violations. Without international scrutiny and pressure, the situation in Ethiopia is likely to worsen, leading to further human rights abuses and a deeper humanitarian crisis.

Advice: Reinvigorating International Scrutiny

Renewing the Mandate of the Expert Commission

The EU and other Human Rights Council members must urgently reconsider their stance and renew the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. This commission has provided valuable insights into the human rights situation in Ethiopia and its reports have offered guidance on the necessary steps to ensure justice and accountability. By renewing the commission’s mandate, the international community can send a strong message that human rights violations will not go unaddressed.

Supporting Independent Investigations

In addition to renewing the expert commission’s mandate, the EU and other Council members should actively support and facilitate independent investigations into human rights abuses in Ethiopia. This includes monitoring the creation of accountability mechanisms and publicly reporting on violations. Independent investigations are crucial for uncovering the truth, holding perpetrators accountable, and preventing further human rights abuses.

Promoting Multilateral Action

The EU should use its influence to mobilize international support for addressing the human rights crisis in Ethiopia. This includes engaging with other regional organizations, such as the African Union, to coordinate efforts and ensure a united front in advocating for justice and accountability. Multilateral action is essential for addressing the root causes and complexities of the crisis.

Pressuring Ethiopia to Cooperate

The international community, including the EU, should exert political and diplomatic pressure on the Ethiopian government to cooperate fully with international scrutiny and accountability efforts. This includes providing unrestricted access to investigators, allowing for the establishment of an independent judiciary, and ensuring the protection of human rights defenders. Without the cooperation of the Ethiopian government, meaningful progress towards justice and accountability will be challenging.

In conclusion, the EU‘s failure to renew the mandate of the expert commission in Ethiopia represents a significant setback for justice, accountability, and human rights. The international community must recommit itself to the prevention of atrocity crimes and take decisive action to ensure that perpetrators of human rights abuses are held accountable. The EU, in particular, has a responsibility to lead by example and reinvigorate international scrutiny of the human rights situation in Ethiopia. The victims of grave atrocities in Ethiopia deserve no less.

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