International Condemnation
Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised alarms on Wednesday, condemning the Ethiopian government’s unsettling decision to halt the operations of two major human rights organizations.
This move signals a worrying increase in the government’s efforts to suppress civil society.
In December 2024, a government body overseeing civil society mandated the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center to cease all activities.
Officials claimed these organizations were “lacking independence” and “exceeding their mandate.” Mausi Segun, HRW’s Africa director, criticized this action, highlighting it as part of a larger pattern of government repression that has escalated over the past year.
She stressed how targeting entities engaged in crucial human rights documentation and advocacy reflects a deep-seated hostility towards independent oversight.
History of Repression
These recent suspensions are not isolated incidents.
They come on the heels of earlier government crackdowns that led to the shutdown of three other notable organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy, Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia.
Although operations for CARD and LHR were briefly resumed on December 11, 2024, the government quickly reinstated their suspensions, demonstrating a relentless approach.
The Ethiopian government’s treatment of these organizations mirrors oppressive tactics from previous administrations.
The 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation granted authorities expansive powers to freeze organizational assets and disband groups advocating for human rights, effectively choking off such activism.
There was a glimmer of hope following the introduction of the Organization of Civil Societies Proclamation in 2019, which aimed to replace the oppressive 2009 legislation.
However, this newer law still allows for the suspension of organizations accused of “serious legal violations,” a clause critics argue has been exploited for political repression, obscuring any progress that may have been achieved.
Need for International Action
The unfolding situation in Ethiopia underscores an urgent need for international scrutiny and action as the government continues to curb the voices advocating for human rights.
Source: Jurist