A recent study has unveiled that sexual assaults in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have persisted even after the signing of a peace agreement intended to end two years of devastating civil war. The report, released by Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa, analyzed 304 medical records from Tigray health centers. It found that at least 128 sexual assaults have occurred since the peace deal was signed last November.
The peace accord, brokered by the African Union and other parties, was established between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) representatives. However, it notably excluded neighboring Eritrea, whose troops had allied with Ethiopian federal forces during the conflict.
According to the report, the majority of attackers were identified by victims as members of military groups, often from Eritrea. Alarmingly, 76% of victims reported assaults by multiple perpetrators, frequently involving three or more assailants. In 94% of the cases reviewed, no protective measures were used. The study also highlights that some women and girls were abducted and subjected to repeated assaults.
Rights campaigners have expressed deep concern over the African Union’s decision to halt its investigation into wartime abuses in Tigray. They allege that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights may have succumbed to undue political pressure from the Ethiopian government. The cessation of the investigation is seen as a significant barrier to justice for survivors seeking healing and accountability.
“The world has accountability mechanisms, but almost everything is in the hands of diplomats and politicians, which is a recipe for failure,” remarked Martin Witteveen, an international criminal law expert formerly with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
The ongoing sexual violence raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the peace process in protecting civilians and ensuring human rights are upheld. Despite the formal end to hostilities, the region continues to grapple with the repercussions of the conflict, particularly for women and girls who remain vulnerable to such atrocities.
In a related development, Ethiopia was announced on Thursday as an incoming member of the BRICS economic bloc, signaling a potential shift in its international engagements amid internal challenges.
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Scores of sexual assaults in Ethiopia’s Tigray since peace agreement, study finds
cgtn.com
