Human Rights Council 54th session
Item 4 - Interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia.
Nordic-Baltic Intervention delivered by Latvia
21 September 2023
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
We thank the Commission for the update and reiterate our strong support for its work.
We welcome the steps already taken by the Government of Ethiopia in implementing the Pretoria and Nairobi Agreements of November 2022.
However, we are deeply concerned by the worrying report of the Commission, in particular its findings identifying grave and systematic violations of international law and crimes committed in Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Oromia. We are especially concerned by the appalling level of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence and we call for immediate cessation of all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.
We encourage the Government of Ethiopia to continue taking concrete steps to advance accountability and transitional justice, in accordance with international human rights' norms and standards and supported by an international component, such as the OHCHR. An active, constructive and effective cooperation with national and international human rights mechanisms is important going forward.
Commissioners, how can we best engage with the Government of Ethiopia and all stakeholders to ensure follow up to your work?
Thank you.