Sexual violence in the Tigray War

Sexual violence in the Tigray War included, according to the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, claims of rape in Mekelle, people forced to rape family members, "sex in exchange for basic commodities", and "increases in the demand for emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections".[1]

Background

The Tigray War commenced in November 2020 in the context of political conflict between the federal government of Ethiopia and the government of the Tigray Region,[2] with the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) participating on the side of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).[3]

January 2021

Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA) reported on 4 January 2021 that large numbers of women had been sexually abused and raped individually or in acts of gang rape. EEPA stated that many women in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray Region, requested emergency contraceptive pills, and that women had been kidnapped by security forces and their places of detention were unknown.[4]

On 21 January 2021, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, brought attention to sexual violence in the Tigray War. She expressed "great concern" at claims of rape in Mekelle, people forced to rape family members, "sex in exchange for basic commodities", and "increases in the demand for emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections". Patten expressed appreciation fo investigations and reports made by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and willingness of United Nations agencies to support Ethiopian authorities in "prevent[ing] and respond[ing] to possible violations".[1]

A refugee from the Tigray War, interviewed by Reuters as reported on 23 January 2021, stated that she had been raped at gunpoint. The rapist was dressed in an ENDF uniform and stated that a condom was unnecessary. Aid workers and doctors described multiple reports of rape by Amhara and EDF security forces in towns including Rawyan, Wukro, Adigrat and Mekelle.[5]

EEPA reported a doctor's statement that EDF and ENDF soldiers shot people who witnessed or tried to help women who were victims of rape in Aksum. Adwa and Aksum residents stopped reacting to women crying for help as a result.[6]

On 25 January, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported "an alarming increase in reports of sexual violations and abuses in Tigray Region, including rape cases," mostly by "men in uniform".[7]

On 30 January 2021, in a speech made by Debretsion Gebremichael, the deposed leader of the Tigray Region, elected in September 2020 and deposed in the war, stated that "Mothers and daughters [were] being raped side by side", attributing the rapes to "the enemies".[8]

EEPA stated on 1 February 2021 reported that six young girls raped by the ENDF in Mekelle were threatened not to report the rape or seek medical care. According to EEPA, the ENDF soldiers justified the rape on the grounds that "[the girls]' father is Dr. Debretsion and [the soldiers father]' is Dr. Abiy. We are not all the same." Women in a mill house were raped in kebele 17 of Mekelle after ENDF soldiers scared away the men; and 18 and 20-year-old women were raped in the Ayder area of Mekelle, according to EEPA.[6]

Investigations

On 31 January 2021, Filsan Abdullahi, the federal Ethiopian Minister of Women, Children and Youth (MoWCY), stated in response to Debretsion Gebremichael's reference to sexual violence during the Tigray War that the federal government "had a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual violence".[9] A task force from MoWCY, together with the Attorney General Adanech Abiebie and defence personnel, was set up to investigate sexual violence in the Tigray War.[10] The task force arrived in Mekelle on 1 February to interview victims, collect medical evidence and aid the victims.[11]

References
  1. Patten, Pramila (2021-01-21). "United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, urges all parties to prohibit the use of sexual violence and cease hostilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia". United Nations. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. Endeshaw, Dawit; Parvicini, Giulia (2020-11-04). "Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  3. Lewis, David; Stewart, Phil (2020-12-08). "Exclusive: U.S. thinks Eritrea has joined Ethiopian war, diplomats say". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 45 – 4 January 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 2021-01-04. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  5. Georgy, Michael (2021-01-23). "'Choose - I kill you or rape you': abuse accusations surge in Ethiopia's war". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 73 – 1 February 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 2021-01-31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. "Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update – Situation Report Last updated: 25 Jan 2021". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2021-01-25. Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  8. Gebremichael, Debretsion; Plaut, Martin (2021-01-31). "Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael's Statement, 30 January 2021". Eritrea Hub. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  9. "Removed leader of Ethiopia's Tigray promises 'resistance': Audio". Al Jazeera English. 2021-01-31. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  10. "Joint taskforce established to investigate raised concern over violence against women in Tigray". Fana Broadcasting Corporate. 2021-01-31. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  11. "Task force starts investigating alleged sexual violence in Tigray". Fana Broadcasting Corporate. 2021-02-03. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
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