Amnesty international sent a letter with preliminary recommendations to the aueom on 21 may 2015. Everything you need to know about human rights in ethiopia. The ruling ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf, a coalition of four ethnically based parties, controls the government. Oromos speak the oromo language as their mother tongue also called afaan oromoo and oromiffa, which is part of the cushitic. Felix horne of hrw and henok gebissa of osa talk to south african radio about oromo protests, hrw, human rights watch says the bloody crackdown on oromo protesters must stop, human rights watch. Purchase a download human rights and governance in ethiopia. At least 75 killed in protests in ethiopias oromia region. Your excellency, the undersigned civil society organisations write to draw your attention to persistent and grave. Human rights of ethiopias oromo people brought to light. A human rights story of the oromo under zenawitplf ethiopian.
The government crackdown has led to ongoing human rights violations against the protesters and dozens of deaths. At least 75 people have been killed during weeks of protests in ethiopia. The ethiopian government is now faced with unprecedented rebellion from the oromo ethnic group, consisting 35% of the ethiopia s population, which it disingenuously claims is inspired by terrorism. In november 2015 when the protests started, protesters initially focused their concerns on. An assessment on the law and practice of womens rights. Uk, germany pile pressure on ethiopia in human rights matters germany and the united kingdom have renewed pressure on the ethiopian government urging it to fulfil its promises on political reforms and opening up the democratic space in the horn of african nation. While international partners tend to hail ethiopia as an african democratic role model and a beacon of stability and hope in an otherwise troubled region, the fundamental rights of the countrys unrepresented continue. Mar 22, 2016 hiber radio on on the recent human rights council report mar 2016. In addis ababa, ethiopians should be feeling excited. Examples from late 2015 when the decision of authorities in ginchi to clear a forest for an investment project triggered protests in at least 400. Human rights as ethical dimension of international development. Violent clashes in ethiopia over master plan to expand. Joint ngo letter addressing the pervasive human rights crisis. Addressing the pervasive human rights crisis in ethiopia your excellency, the undersigned civil society organisations write to draw your attention to persistent and grave violations of human rights in ethiopia and the pressing need to support.
The immediate pretext is the addis ababa master plan encroaching and displacing oromo farmers, but this masks a deeper grievance which has been brewing for at least two decades under. Even as anuak refugees and human rights groups have publicly charged that world bank money has been used to bankroll brutal evictions, the bank has continued to send hundreds of millions of dollars into the same health and education program. Apr 15, 2015 the world bank strongly disputes that its money supported the mass evictions in western ethiopia. The designpreparation of dismanteling ethiopia took longer time than its effective implementation.
Hrlha statement jan 11, 2019 the human rights league of the horn of africa is seriously concerned about the current mass arrests and killings in oromia regional state in ethiopia in connection with the recent unexpected differences that have appeared between the oromo liberation front olf and the oromo peoples democratic organization opdo. List of oromo politicians and activists charged with atp. Sweeping repression in the oromia, africa, brutal, ethiopia. The ethiopia human rights project ehrp has actively followed the protests and summarized the issues, causes, and the human rights violations perpetrated by government security forces in response to the protests in oromia region. Police must account for missing oromo opposition leader. New evidence ties world bank to human rights abuses in ethiopia. Ethiopias elections are generally considered unfair, and the government has passed regressive laws to silence critics and to shutter opposition political parties and human rights organizations. Ethiopia 3 country reports on human rights practices for 2015 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights and labor on november 19, students in the oromia region began protesting in opposition to the expansion of the city of addis ababa into. Oromo, distinct from ethiopia s official amharic language. Africa, hrw, human rights violations against oromo people, human rights watch says the bloody crackdown on oromo protesters must stop, oromia.
Petitioning united nations human rights committee and 1 other the ethiopian government has unleashed its armed forces on unarmed students and citizens from. Human rights violation in ethiopian worldwide ethiopians. Ethiopian oromo marathoner feyisa lilesa gained worldwide media coverage when he expressed solidarity with the oromo protesters at the rio olympics after winning a silver medal. The ethiopian government has unleashed its armed forces on unarmed students and citizens from across oromia who are peacefully protesting the implementation of the addis ababa integrated master plan. The following is a statement from the human rights league of the horn of africa hrlha. In ethiopia, authoritarian development overlooks human rights and responds to dissent with violence. Congress should send human rights experts to investigate the atrocities in the amhara, oromo and somali. Unpo has released a report on human rights in ethiopia, shedding light on the worrying situation of the oromo and ogadeni peoples.
Ethiopian civil societys engagement with human rights is shackled by. In ethiopia in 2015 there were continuing government crackdowns on opposition political party members, journalists, and peaceful protesters, many of whom experienced harassment, arbitrary arrest, and politically motivated prosecutions. The city has proudly and successfully debuted the first metropolitan rail line in subsaharan africa. They are the largest ethnic group in ethiopia and represent 34. Women should enjoy human rights equally so that they. The oromo have been subject to human rights violations and discrimination under three successive regimes in ethiopia, according to a 2009 report by u. Ethiopia is a one party dominant state, the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf, dominates politics. Ethiopia continues to restrict employment among members of the oromo community by terminating positions of.
The human rights league of the horn of africa hrlha expresses its deep concern over the safety. Jan 05, 2016 the following is a statement of the human rights league of the horn of africa hrlha. The oromo federalist congress ofc, including aims and. This report documents human rights violations against the oromo people of ethiopia as seen through the eyes of the oromo diaspora. Congress has the power of the purse to stop the massive human right abuses in ethiopia. Activists say more than 200 people have been killed, but human rights. The ethiopian human rights council ehrco was established in 1991 to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in ethiopia. Oromoo are a cushitic ethnic group and nation native to ethiopia who speak the oromo language. Human rights watch notes that the ofc participated in the may. Ethiopian women do not equally enjoy their rights by the mere fact of their humanity endalcachew, 2015. Dec 15, 2015 petitioning united nations human rights committee and 1 other. In the last few months, clashes between state security forces and students in the oromo region of ethiopia have been deadly.
Harassment and intimidation through arbitrary arrests, beatings, torture and rapes were committed in adaa berga district, western showa zone of oromia regional state against young oromo nationals on september 24 and 25, 2015. According to the new yorkbased human rights watch, about 200 protesters have been killed in the latest government operation. Amnesty international report, human rights watch on human rights violations against oromo people by tplf ethiopia. Journalists and human rights advocates have documented the detention and abuse of political dissentersactual or. Dec 21, 2015 what is behind the oromo rebellion in ethiopia. Since its establishment, ehrco has been involved in monitoring human rights abuses and providing legal. The year in human rights videos oromo protesters at the top. Shigut geleta, oromo liberation front, on a conference entitled womens inferno in ethiopia held at european parliament on 22 march 2017 excellency ms. On june 10, the governmentestablished ehrc reported to parliament that it counted 173 deaths in oromia, including 28 of security force members and. Fostering a vibrant and independent civil society to promote human rights. Regionwide, heavyhanded crackdown on peaceful protesters hrlha urgent action for immediate release the human rights league of the horn of africa hrlha expresses its grave concern at the continuation of gross human rights violations in oromia regional state violations that have regularly occurred since 1991 when the tplfeprdf came into power. Mn oromos decry human rights violations in ethiopia, say. Addressing the pervasive human rights crisis in ethiopia.
Every year, amnesty international evaluates the human rights situation in countries around the world. Ethiopia 3 country reports on human rights practices for 2015 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights and labor on november 19, students in the oromia region began protesting in opposition to the expansion of the city of addis ababa into the surrounding region of oromia. Hrlha ever since november of 2015 and still going on are serious human rights violations in oromia regional. The tplf inhuman actions against oromo civilians are clearly genocidal, a crime against humanity and an ethnic cleansing, which breach domestic and international laws, and all international treaties the government of ethiopia signed and ratified. August 19, 2016 august 21, 2016 admin uncategorized download the pdf from late 2015 up to date, the largest ethnic group in ethiopia, the oromo s has been protesting. Women should enjoy human rights equally so that they can make great contributions to the economic. Ethiopia stakeholder report for the united nations universal. I am writing on behalf of human rights watch to request the governments response and perspective regarding serious human rights concerns related to the protests in oromia since november 2015. Sep 22, 2016 but, after human rights watch interviewed more than 125 witnesses, victims, and government officials, a significant pattern of human rights violations during peaceful oromo protests was revealed. Since its establishment, ehrco has been involved in monitoring human rights abuses and providing legal assistance. In october 2017 the ethiopian human rights commission ehrc, a government human rights body, issued a report on its investigation following formal complaints from inmates that prison officials and police officers committed human rights violations, including torture, at the shoa robit federal prison between september and november 2016.
Please join the tom lantos human rights commission for a briefing on the current human rights situation in ethiopia home to the oromo, ethiopias largest ethnic group, the region of oromia was witness to mostly peaceful student protests in november of 2015 against the ethiopian governments plan to take over territory to expand the nations capital. Unpo released a report on human rights in ethiopia, shedding light on the worrying situation of the. Events of 2015 january 27, 2016 posted by oromianeconomist in uncategorized. Democratic front eprdf, a coalition of four ethnically based parties, controls the government. The human rights league of the horn of africa called upon western powers to condemn the systematic repression and human rights violations happening in oromia.
Human rights of ethiopias oromo people brought to light in. Oromia beginning in november 2015, and in the amhara region from july 2016. The new law eased restrictions which had hindered the ability of groups to secure foreign funding. A march 14 report from the independent ethiopian ngo human rights council hrco covering 33 districts in oromia from november 2015 to february 20 described more than 100 extrajudicial killings. Extreme cruelties and brutalities against oromo children and youth, human rights defender says ethiopian govts attacks on oromo children and youth are cruel, human rights league of the horn of africa, human rights violations in. States withdraw foreign aid support from an ethiopian government that detains, imprisons, tortures and.
The status of human rights organizations in subsaharan africa. Posted on march 26, 2017 by admin and saved under human rights, oromo news. Ethiopia rights news articles center for advancement of. New spate of abusive surveillance human rights watch the tplf implemented dismantle ethiopia project is highly disguised. Human rights in ethiopia an update tom lantos human.
Human rights watch world report 2015 january 29, 2015 posted by oromianeconomist in africa, amnesty internationals report. Human rights organizations responses human rights watch hr human rights watch, an international human rights organization, strongly condemns the excessive force used to crack down against oromo peaceful protestors in its december 18, 2015 statement ethiopia. At least 75 killed in protests in ethiopia s oromia region, says human rights watch. Killings and arrests in response to ethiopias oromo protests. Stop massacre of oromo people and suppression of human. Donors remain muted in their criticism of ethiopias human rights record and took little meaningful action to investigate allegations of abuses. The commission operated 112 legal aid centers in collaboration with 22 universities and two civil society organizations, the ethiopian women lawyers association and the ethiopian christian lawyers fellowship.
In 2015 and 2016, protests erupted across ethiopia. List of oromo politicians and activists charged with atp only at federal court level. Thats according to human rights watch hrw, which says soldiers and police have been firing on demonstrators. Human rights abuses in ethiopia require congressional. The 2018 ethiopian crossroads and the new political winds. The government has also drafted a national human rights action plan for 202015. Voicing concern over serious human rights violations in the oromia and amhara.
Killings and arrests in response to ethiopia s oromo protests, details the ethiopian governments use of excessive and unnecessary lethal force and mass. Development and human rights at odds in ethiopia fair observer. These accounts not only establish the basis for protection of. While international partners tend to hail ethiopia as an african democratic role model and a beacon of stability and hope in an otherwise troubled region, the fundamental rights of the. We need to see and hear the inspiring actions undertaken by huge numbers of. In november 2015 when the protests started, protesters initially focused their. Department of state bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor report, april, 2016 executive summary ethiopia is a federal republic. A human rights story of the oromo under zenawitplf ethiopian govt. Donors remain muted in their criticism of ethiopia s human rights record and took little meaningful action to investigate allegations of abuses. The year in human rights videos oromo protesters at the.
Stay up to date and learn about key human rights issues in ethiopia. Oromia, home to the oromo people, is ethiopias largest region. Ethiopian security forces crackeddown on these largely. According to other ngos and oromo region officials, there were hundreds of deaths due to militia groups in the eastern side of ethiopia. Stop massacre of oromo people and suppression of human rights in ethiopia. Feb 12, 2017 despite evident progress, ethiopia, where the population of close to 100 million is africas second largest, still lies 174th out of 188 countries on the uns 2015 human development index. According to a paper by the center for international human rights at northwestern university school of law, the cso law is the product of the ethiopian governments deep suspicion of civil society and has been frequently used to silence any organization that advocates for human rights in ethiopia. Unpo human rights report 2017 unpo has released a report on human rights in ethiopia, shedding light on the worrying situation of the oromo and ogadeni peoples. Please join the tom lantos human rights commission for a briefing on the current human rights situation in ethiopia home to the oromo, ethiopia s largest ethnic group, the region of oromia was witness to mostly peaceful student protests in november of 2015 against the ethiopian governments plan to take over territory to expand the nations capital. Immigration and refugee board of canada department of justice. Click here to download in pdf omrho presents the state of human rights in ethiopia since the incumbent abiy ahmeds plan to become an autocrat and plot to kill the fdre constitution. Amnesty international asks ethiopia to investigate. Ethiopia s stateaffiliated human rights commission says 669 people died, including 63 policemen, in the wave of antigovernment protests that began in november 2015.
Hrlha plea for release of detained peaceful protestors march 5, 2015 posted by oromianeconomist in africa, because i am oromo, ethiopia s colonizing structure and the development problems of people of oromia, afar, ogaden, sidama, southern ethiopia and the omo valley, ethnic cleansing, groups at risk of arbitrary arrest in oromia. But, after human rights watch interviewed more than 125 witnesses, victims, and government officials, a significant pattern of human rights violations during peaceful oromo protests was revealed. Amnesty international expressed its concerns about the state of human rights in ethiopia and the impact the human rights context was having on the ability of ethiopians to participate in the electoral process. In the mid1990s, ethiopia s supporters in britain, the european union, and the united states christened prime minister meles zenawi as one of africas new leaders this nomenclature supposedly reflected his commitment to democracy, good governance, human rights, and a. Development and human rights at odds in ethiopia fair.
Amnesty international asks ethiopia to investigate suspicious murders and human rights violations june 26, 2015 harun1983 leave a comment the suspicious murder of opposition leaders and widespread human rights violations against opposition party members over the past few weeks raises questions about ethiopia s elections, said amnesty. Human rights violations in oromia oromianeconomist. After protests in oromo, amhara, and the southern nations, nationalities, and peoples region, the ethiopian human rights council reported that there were 669 deaths on aggregate. Human rights watch reports daily killings as ethiopian. Oromia, home to the oromo people, is ethiopia s largest region. However, the 2015 and 2016 states of emergency created a. Stop massacre of oromo people and suppression of human rights. The personal accounts of asylum seekers and other immigrants to the united states provide a window to the human rights conditions in ethiopia. Because i am oromo, groups at risk of arbitrary arrest in oromia. Dec 23, 2015 in ethiopia, authoritarian development overlooks human rights and responds to dissent with violence. The ehrc investigated human rights complaints and produced annual and thematic reports. Pdf land rights and land grabbing in oromia, ethiopia.
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