Friday, December 17, 2021

UN Human Rights Council Establishes International Commission of Experts on Ethiopia

 UN News published on 17 December 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Crisis: Human Rights Council Sets Up International Rights Probe."

Deutsche Welle published on 17 December 2021 an article titled "UN Human Rights Council to Investigate War Crimes in Ethiopia."

The European Union sponsored the resolution with the support of the US.  The government of Ethiopia opposed the resolution.  The final vote was 21 in favor, 15 opposed, and 11 abstentions.  China and Russia opposed the resolution together with 7 Africans (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Gabon).  Six African countries abstained (Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Sudan, and Togo).  The Commission will comprise three human rights experts appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of human rights, humanitarian and refugee law committed by all parties to the conflict in Tigray.