In November 2020, following months of escalating political tensions, the federal government of Ethiopia launched a military offensive in the Tigray region against the governing Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The conflict caused immense human suffering, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of civilians. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), all parties to the conflict – including Tigrayan forces and federal government forces, as well as their Eritrean and Amhara militia allies – committed violations of international law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also found evidence of the ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans from Western Tigray.

From the outset of the conflict and following the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022, the Global Centre has played a pivotal role in organizing international advocacy efforts to highlight the severity of the crisis and urge a robust international response.

Advocating for the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council (HRC)-mandated investigative mechanism

The Global Centre, working alongside organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and DefendDefenders, spearheaded a 2021 campaign urging the HRC to hold a special session on the crisis in Ethiopia. Following advocacy efforts, which included close coordination with the European Union and allied states to build support for the initiative, on 17 December the HRC held the special session, during which it established the International Commission on Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE).

Since the formation of ICHREE, the Global Centre has been a strong advocate for the renewal of its mandate. Working in coordination with various partners, the Global Centre:

• • • Successfully advocated for the extension of ICHREE’s mandate at both the HRC and the UN General Assembly.
    • Underscored the importance of ICHREE’s work in documenting atrocities and amplifying its findings through policy recommendations sent to members of the Group of Friends of R2P and the Global Network of R2P Focal Points in capitals and Geneva.

Despite these persistent efforts, the HRC did not renew ICHREE’s mandate in October 2023. In response to this decision, the Global Centre, in partnership with Physicians for Human Rights, Health Professionals Network for Tigray and the Organization for Justice and Accountability, issued a joint statement urging the international community to prioritize justice and accountability for atrocities in Ethiopia through other avenues.

Creating the Working Group on Accountability for Atrocities in Ethiopia

The failure to renew ICHREE’s mandate left a gap in terms of clear and coordinated accountability efforts. There was growing interest in ensuring justice for atrocities perpetrated during the conflict in northern Ethiopia, but partners lacked a clear direction and coordinated approach. In response, the Global Centre brought together 35 local and international experts – including Ethiopian human rights activists/defenders, legal professionals, diaspora organizations and other stakeholders – to advance justice and accountability through an inclusive, victim and survivor-centered process. This collaboration led to the Global Centre creating the Working Group on Accountability for Atrocities in Ethiopia. Through monthly meetings, the group has worked to identify key accountability pathways and maintain a multilateral focus on ensuring that justice is pursued for the victims of this crisis. This includes the creation of a number of advocacy tools, including the recent submission on Ethiopia’s human rights record to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

For more information on the Global Centre’s work on Ethiopia or the Working Group on Accountability for Atrocities in Ethiopia, contact our expert, Sarah Hunter, here.