HRC 55 Written Statement : Racial and Ethnic-based violence and discrimination against Ethiopia’s Amhara

The Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), a non-governmental organization with special consultative status, has submitted a written statement to the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statement draws attention to the alarming racial and ethnic-based violence and discrimination against Ethiopia’s Amhara people.

CAP LC’s statement highlights the longstanding issue of marginalization and conflict experienced by various ethnic groups in Ethiopia, with a particular focus on the recent alleged massacre of civilians in the Amhara region. The organization reports on the Ethiopian government’s use of drone strikes in the region following the declaration of a state of emergency in August 2023, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.

The statement provides a detailed list of 28 drone attacks that occurred between August 2023 and January 2024, targeting civilians in various locations across the Amhara region. These attacks have resulted in hundreds of injuries and deaths, including children, women, and individuals in civilian spaces such as schools, hospitals, and religious areas.

CAP LC emphasizes that despite Ethiopia’s ratification of international conventions and protocols prioritizing the protection of civilians during times of war, the government’s actions contradict its commitments. The organization calls for an investigation into these incidents and urges the international community to take action to address the racial and ethnic-based violence and discrimination faced by the Amhara people in Ethiopia.