Geneva, 22 September 2022 (TDI): At the 51st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC51), the Ambassador of Denmark to Geneva, Erik Brøgger Rasmussen, highlighted the hostilities situation in Ethiopia.

Statement by Ambassador of Denmark

The Ambassador of Denmark to Geneva, on behalf of Nordic-Baltic countries, stated,

Mr. President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Denmark.

We thank the Commission for its update and the initial report. We welcome the efforts of the Commission, which is an important complement to national efforts to ensure accountability.

Comprehensive, transparent, and independent investigations are central to ensuring a credible accountability process without which there will be no sustainable peace or justice for victims.

We welcome previous commitments by the Federal Ethiopian Government as well as the recent announcement by Tigray authorities to an immediate cessation of hostilities and to commit to an AU-led peace process without preconditions.

However, we remain deeply concerned about human rights violations and abuses by all parties to the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

We call for all parties to end hostilities immediately and urge them to seek a negotiated political peace settlement, ensure unhindered humanitarian access and respect the human rights, security and safety of civilians.”

Lastly, the Ambassador of Denmark to Geneva asked the commissioners about their efforts. He said,

“Commissioners, could you share your thoughts on how you will pursue cooperation with relevant stakeholders going forward, including the Government of Ethiopia, regional State governments and the Government of Eritrea? Thank you.”

Also Read: Lithuania at 51st session of HRC

Human Rights violation in Northern Ethiopia

In 2020, Ethiopian soldiers had confrontations with Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).  TPLF was accused of launching surprise attacks against nearby military installations. Since then the conflict is going on.

In the town of Mai Kadra, the first of two rounds of ethnic killings started, leaving hundreds dead. Amhara people first claimed that Tigrayan militiamen are the ones attacking them.

Then, Tigrayan civilians claimed that Amhara militias attacked them first.  Thousands of Tigrayans started to escape into Sudan from Western Tigray.

Further, the conflict escalated when the TPLF fired rockets at Amhara airports and at the Eritrean capital Asmara, accusing Eritrea of sending soldiers into Tigray.

Thousands of civilians have died during a nearly two-year-long battle in northern Ethiopia, and millions more have been displaced and require food and shelter.

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