Mr. President,
Ethiopia is focused on the full implementation of the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities signed in Pretoria, the Republic of South Africa on the 2nd of November 2022, through an African Union-convened process. This Agreement has stopped the conflict and all forms of hostilities. The second pillar of the implementation is a significant increase in humanitarian aid and restoration of services. Another pillar is disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants.
These undertakings are being overseen by the AU Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mechanism. On the 10th of March 2023, the National Tehadiso or Rehabilitation Commission held consultations in Mekele on the Demobilization and Reintegration of former combatants.
The Agreement has also provided transitional measures, which include adopting a transitional justice policy to ensure accountability, truth-telling, redress for victims, healing, and reconciliation. On 6 March 2023, the inaugural ceremony for the nationwide consultations was held. On the 16th of March, a workshop for experience and expertise sharing was held involving speakers from different countries, organizations, and academicians in the field.
These measures further consolidate the work of the inter-ministerial task force implementing the joint recommendations of UNOHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. The UNOHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, at the request of the Government, are supporting the nationwide consultations on transitional justice and will jointly deploy human rights monitors to conflict-affected areas. In the meantime, we call on the International Commission of Human Rights Experts to take extra care in the period until September, when it will submit its final report, not to repeat the kinds of inflammatory and unfounded allegations contained in its preliminary report with the potential to undermine the Peace Agreement, stability and durable peace in Ethiopia.
Finally, Mr. President, I reiterate the firm commitment of the Government of Ethiopia to investigate allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law, to ensure justice is done and victims receive redress.
The reminder of my statement will be delivered at the conclusion of the Interactive Dialogue.
I thank you.
Mr. President,
After listening to the comments from different delegations, I will just make following additional points.
1. As I have stated earlier, the Transitional Justice mechanism will be important in ensuring accountability and redress.
2. The Government has been taking concrete steps to expedite humanitarian assistance to people of concern and restore public services. This has enabled humanitarian actors to provide unhindered and unfettered humanitarian assistance. The Government is also taking measures to restore critical infrastructure.
3. It is to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia has previously invited the Commission to Addis Ababa to explore modalities for cooperation by building upon the Report of the Joint Investigation by the OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. Unfortunately, the Commission was not ready to engage constructively in accordance with its mandate.
4. Going forward, the international community could best support Ethiopia in redoubling its support to the Transitional Justice relayed process.
I thank you.
