The following is a statement from the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA)
HRLHA – November 14, 2012
The Human Rights League of the
Horn of Africa (HRLHA) strictly denounces that UN General Assembly
elected Ethiopia on November 12, 2012 to serve in the UN human Rights
Council for the next three years starting from January 1, 2013.
Among others, the Ethiopian Government
limits freedom of association and assembly particularly for members of
opposition groups, and security forces have used/using excessive force
to break up peaceful demonstrations and continue to restrict free press.
Twenty one year’s poor human rights record of Ethiopian Government
shows, thousands illegally detained, tortured, kidnapped, disappeared
and or killed, who were members of opposition groups or accused of being
insurgents. After the death of the late Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Meles Zenawi the human rights suppression continued under his successor
Prime Minster Hailemariam Dessalegn Government all over the country
including the capital city Addis Ababa, regional states of Ogaden,
Oromia, Sidama, Amhara, Gambela and others.
HRLHA
HRLHA – November 14, 2012
In the last two decades the Ethiopian
Government led by EPRDF/TPLF has been repeatedly condemned by regional
and international human rights organizations including US State
Department and UN independent experts[1] and UN Special Rapporteurs for its heinous human rights crimes against its citizens.
Among others, the Ethiopian Government
limits freedom of association and assembly particularly for members of
opposition groups, and security forces have used/using excessive force
to break up peaceful demonstrations and continue to restrict free press.
Twenty one year’s poor human rights record of Ethiopian Government
shows, thousands illegally detained, tortured, kidnapped, disappeared
and or killed, who were members of opposition groups or accused of being
insurgents. After the death of the late Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Meles Zenawi the human rights suppression continued under his successor
Prime Minster Hailemariam Dessalegn Government all over the country
including the capital city Addis Ababa, regional states of Ogaden,
Oromia, Sidama, Amhara, Gambela and others.
According to the United Nations Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights official Web Site, the
responsibilities of the United Nations Human Rights Council is stated as
“The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the
United Nations system made up of 47 states responsible for strengthen
the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe”[2]
Electing countries with poor human
rights records like Ethiopia to the UN human rights council will erode
the trust of the world community for UN Organization
Besides, it will dare the determination
of the United Nations to protect the fundamental human rights of the
peoples which is stated as the preamble to the Charter of the United
Nations “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, dignity and
worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of
nations large and small[3]
Therefore, the UN general assembly
should pay attention to the reports of independent civic organizations
and the UN special expert’s and UN Rapporteur’s (Representative of the
Secretary – General) reports on Ethiopian human rights situation and
revise the result of the election.
[3] Charter of the United Nations, http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/preamble.shtml
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