U.S. Statement at the High Commissioner for Human Right’s Briefing to the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Ethiopia
Statement read by Human Rights Counsellor Daniel Kronenfeld
The United States is gravely concerned about the ongoing atrocities in Ethiopia, the escalating violence, and the inflammatory rhetoric.
We strongly condemn violence against civilians by all parties, including reports of rape by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and airstrikes reportedly launched by Ethiopian National Defense Forces that killed civilians, including children.
We deeply fear for the safety of the thousands of Tigrayans presently being detained on the basis of ethnicity. We also fear starvation of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians caused by the cutting off of humanitarian access.
We call for:
1. The Ethiopian government and the TPLF to allow unhindered humanitarian access and for the Ethiopian government to allow international monitors timely access to detainees.
2. The Ethiopian government and the TPLF to enter negotiations without preconditions.
3. All parties to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, use restraint, end hostilities, respect human rights, and protect civilians.
All those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses and violations must be held accountable.
It is not too late to pull back from the brink. The unity and integrity of the Ethiopian state is at stake.