from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – ALLEGATIONS of rape and other forms of sexual violence have surfaced amid a worsening humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Local and international humanitarian agencies raised concern at the trend as the crisis in the northern region.
Women and children are the most affected by the conflict.
Humanitarian groups jointly called on all state and non-state parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and ensure their forces respected and protected civilian populations, particularly women and children, from all human rights abuses.
They condemned all sexual violence and urged authorities to take action and bring perpetrators to justice where abuses occurred.
“It is essential that an independent investigation into conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray be initiated,” the organisations stated.
They proposed the involvement of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Tigray, with a population of more than 7 million, plunged into conflict towards the end of 2020 after a fallout between the federal and regional governments.
The areas of Adigrat, Mekelle and Shire are most impacted.
– CAJ News