EU's request to UN Human Rights Council politically motivated — Ethiopia

The TPLF terrorists have massacred civilians, raped women, destroyed civilian infrastructure including hospitals and schools in Afar and Amhara but received no condemnation from the EU.

 

ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 13 — The European Union (EU) requested the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to convene a special session of the Human Rights Council on what it called a 'worsening conflict and humanitarian situation' in Ethiopia.

The EU sent request to the president of the 47-member rights body, called for a session to be held this Friday, December 17. It was backed by 17 HRC member states – more than the third needed to convene a session – and 35 countries with observer status.

But none of the Africa’s 13 representatives in the 47-member body of the UN, based in Geneva, backed a proposal to have the Human Rights Council discuss Ethiopia as had been proposed by the European Union.

“In light of the aggravating situation we believe the international community has a moral obligation to try to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability and justice for victims and survivors, " said Lotte Knudsen, the European Union’s ambassador to the UN and other organizations in Geneva, in a tweet on Monday.

“The Human Rights Council has to stand up to its responsibilities,” added Knudsen, who co-signed the letter with Slovenia’s ambassador Anita Pipan.

However, Ethiopia saw EU's request for a special session at UNHRC as politically motivated because in July the EU adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Tigray when the joint investigation by the UNHRC and the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC) was under way. The EU's move at the time was in haste and undermined not just Ethiopia's efforts but also the work being done by the UNHRC and the EHRC.

"Ethiopia once again is perplexed and saddened by the regrettable situation that is unfolding at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva", said a statement released by Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Although, Ethiopia along with UNHRC announced the findings of the joint investigation just last month and promised to implement the recommendations set forth., yet again the EU and some in the Human Rights Council are engaged in acts which Ethiopia sees as having  utter disregard for the efforts made and the work it did. 

"This, of course, is not the first time Ethiopia witnessed such unjust and counterproductive attempt by some to exert political pressure. At the 47th Session of the Council, despite Ethiopian Government‘s repeated appeal for the Council to allow the joint investigation team to complete its work, these countries went on to adopt a resolution that neither involved the country concerned nor consider the call by others to withdraw the resolution", read the statement from the Ethiopian government.

"What is even more disheartening is the fact that, in the midst of these important undertakings, and with utter disregard for the work that has been done prior to the commencement of the joint investigation, some members still choose to advance their political agenda through the work of the Council", added the statement.

Moreover, Ethiopia called on members of the Human Rights Council to categorically reject and vote against the special session and its politically motivated outcome. 

"What should have been a priority for the Council instead was the urgent task of carrying out an investigation into the violations of human rights and atrocities committed by the TPLF terrorist group in the Afar and Amhara Regional States. It is unfortunate to witness that no such call has come forth from some in the Council. This has to be immediately rectified", said the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Government of Ethiopia would like to assure members of the Human Rights Council and the international community of its commitment to continue to engage in a constructive manner and fulfill its obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights", concluded the statement from the MFA.

All in all, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) despite massacring civilians, raping women, destroying civilian infrastructure including thousands of health facilities and schools in Afar and Amhara regions, the international community especially the EU and still some members of the Human Rights Council are not as outspoken as the rights abuses purportedly committed in Tigray. This, unless rectified, will not only disappoint the Ethiopian government but many Ethiopians as well who will be forced to see the West as a foe instead of as an ally.