UNSC: ‘Extremely concerned’ over allegations of violence in Tigray | Sexual Issues

About six months after the war in Tigray region of Ethiopia, the United Nations Security Council issued its first document connected words in the midst of the ongoing crisis, they are expressing “grave concern” over alleged human rights abuses, including reports of violence against women and girls.

The 15-member council on Thursday also called for “reduced humanitarian assistance and access to basic services” to meet their needs, including those living in food insecure communities.

“Today, the Security Council remains silent on the ongoing crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia,” said Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s ambassador to the UN, who chaired the talks. “For the first time, the Council is speaking in unison to express all its concerns about the current crisis in the world.”

The Security Council discussed the matter at length and did not go to extremes in defiance of a number of African diplomats, including Russia and Russia and China, according to reports that the ambassadors who spoke had not been identified.

In the introduction to the #Ethiopia / #Tigray, #A The Security Council recommended that in addition to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ongoing inspections in Iran, that it monitor Iran’s compliance with “the steps required by the IAEA Board”. @alirezatalischioriginal led a discussion on the scriptures: https://t.co/G0FHaSlMLR

– Amanda Mtengo (@amandaruthprice) April 22, 2021

In one of the doors closed last week, a UN humanitarian official said “Tigray aid had deteriorated” and warned that “many” in the region of about six million people would never “reach” aid agencies.

“The conflict is not over and things are not changing,” Mark Lowcock told the council, “closely monitoring developments, and called for” reports of rape, terrorist rape and sexual assault … especially disruptive and dangerous. “

In addition, Lowcock said he had received a report of 150 starvation deaths in another area south of Tigray, calling them “a sign of impending doom”.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered troops in Tigray in November 2020 after criticizing the leaders of the ruling Tigray People’s Party, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), for plotting to overthrow the Northern Command of Ethiopia. The TPLF leader, who ruled Ethiopia in Ethiopia until Abiy came to power in 2018, criticized the federal government and its former enemy Eritrea for “rebelling” in unison.

Abiy, the winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, announced victory after the military entered the provincial capital, Mekelle, on November 28 but the fighting continued and experts warned of a long-running strike that claimed thousands of lives. and left millions helpless.

For months the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments have denied that Eritreans have taken action, contradicting evidence from citizens, freedom fighters, aid workers, ambassadors and even Ethiopian civilians and military personnel.

Abiy eventually acknowledged Eritrea’s presence in March while talking to lawmakers, and promised to soon leave. On Friday, a day after Lowcock claimed that the UN and its allies did not see “no evidence” that the Eritrean military had left, neighboring Eritrea had for the first time acknowledged their role in the Tigray war and promised to withdraw its troops.

On Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Eritrea to “immediately” make a pledge to withdraw its military from the north. The United Nations and the United States have also called on Eritrea to withdraw troops from the region immediately.

International organizations have also urged Ethiopia to seize access to Tigray aid agencies. In a statement on Thursday, the Security Council acknowledged that the Ethiopian government’s efforts to provide “more relief aid” were “recognized as” still unresolved. “

There are also issues to be fully investigated in cases of human rights abuses including sexual violence that are used as a weapon of war.

“We have heard cries of human rights abuses and abuses, especially violence against women and girls,” Nason said Thursday.

“Continued violence, death and sexual and gender-based violence are unacceptable. Those in charge, regardless of race, should be held accountable, ”said Nason.

The Ethiopian government has set up a task force to investigate reports of sexual violence in Tigray, and says this is important.

In contrast, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced at the end of March that they had agreed to conduct a joint investigation into “alleged human rights abuses and alleged abuses by all groups” in Tigray.