The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) East Africa Regional Office (EARO) held on February 3, 2022, a consultation forum with key government representatives, the diplomatic community, international organizations, regional organizations, international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the academia on support for the implementation of recommendations from the joint investigation report on the Tigray conflict.
EHRC Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele stated, “the outcome of the joint investigation report should not be up for debate. All parties to the conflict have a duty to accept responsibility for the violations and abuses committed by their forces and take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.”
Urging all partners present at the consultation to support the recommendations from the report unequivocally, he added that “they need to firmly press all parties to the conflict to accept and implement the recommendations by taking concrete steps.”
Marcel Clement Akpovo, OHCHR-EARO Regional Representative, also called “on all those with responsibilities of implementing or supporting the implementation of the recommendations to play their part.
“When in full compliance with international legal framework and standards, home remedies are given importance to address and bring about accountability; when states express willingness, political intent and capability to assume their primary responsibility of human rights protection.
We can only be receptive and unequivocally commit to supporting, despite any doubt and suspicion that may exist,” he added.
