The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today issued the following statement:
“Canada is deeply concerned by the findings outlined in the joint report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on their investigation into human rights violations resulting from the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. We commend the transparent and impartial work that the OHCHR and EHRC carried out under challenging circumstances.
“This report was published on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the beginning of this conflict and a day after the Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency (SoE). Canada is gravely concerned by the expansion of combat operations to Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The Government of Ethiopia’s announcement of an SoE confers significant authority to the government, and includes clauses that have the potential to escalate the conflict. These developments are extremely concerning, and Canada calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold human rights.
“The scale and consistency of the targeted violence being perpetrated against civilians by all parties to the conflict in northern Ethiopia is appalling, deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. The findings of this report highlight significant and serious abuses and violations of human rights, as well as humanitarian and refugee law, and finds all parties to the conflict to be implicated. It also indicates that some of these violations may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
“Canada acknowledges the OHCHR-EHRC findings and calls on all parties to the conflict to take immediate action to implement the recommendations set out in the report. This report calls upon the Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF, and all other parties to the conflict, to uphold their obligations under international law to ensure the protection, safety and security of civilians and allow for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.
“Canada will work together with partners and allies to support efforts toward justice and accountability for those affected by the conflict, and to support ongoing efforts to resolve this grave human rights and humanitarian crisis.
“We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Efforts toward a mediated political solution and an inclusive national dialogue are urgently needed.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Affairs Canada.
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
