Following the reforms surfacing in the left, right and center of the country, the government has been taking a wide spectrum of measures intending to create enabling conditions to prevent human rights violations.
No one can deny the fact that the reforms have been facing huge challenges and obstructions bringing about human rights crisis in some parts of the country. And possibly, all of them emanate from the deeper past roots of political, social and economic complexities in which the country was immersed, according to the report of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Dr. Daniel Bekele, EHRC’s Commissioner while presenting a six-month report of the commission said, “Over the past years, the Ethiopian government violated the rights of its people with the assistance of security forces over and over again. However, nowadays, the government is not contributing to human rights violations.
“ At this point in time, peoples’ demands concerning administrative, identity and other political issues are turning out to be the root cause of conflicts that are taking place in some parts of the country,” he added.
He stressed that the Commission was operating under tense political situations that influence its independence to act as per the mission and objectives of the EHRC that it originally was established for.
Some time ago, owing to some political influences, the commission was not able to carry out its duties and responsibilities but after the prime minister took office, it was reorganized afresh,”
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Dr. Daniel Bekele said, “The reorganization of the Commission and revision of the legal framework were given special attention to build the institution and address the problems.”
According to him, works are being done to restructure and reorganize the commission to enable the commission to bring about its duties as it should be. Furthermore, an assessment has been done to improve the capacity and limitations of the institution and the limitations of noticeable legal frameworks.”
“The commission is working to improve the proclamation in light of the national and global context,”
He also noted that the amendment of the proclamation has been carried out in line with the international principles known by the United Nations in which human rights institutions of all countries are governed.
House’s Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee is requested by the MPs to monitor and supervise the Commission on a better level.
Members of the Parliament urge the commission to work cooperatively with stakeholders to be able to properly fulfill its responsibilities concerning its established purposes.
And also, MPs forwarded suggestions, comments, and questions that indicate the report’s incomplete appearance. They said that the report failed to include the human rights violations in a real context and the situation the general public is in.
“The report does not reflect the reaction of the law enforcers against the human rights violators and efforts exerted by the Commission to enforce the law”, they noted.
The Commission was recommended to exert its full effort to execute its mandates given to the commission by the law of the country.
“As maintaining national peace and stability is the responsibility of everyone, all and sundry irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, and other related aspects should contribute their part for the realization of human rights all over the country,” he wrapped up.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 7 February 2020
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
