BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
ADDIS ABABA – UN OHCHR’s recent leaked audio clip exposed various international media and human right organizations’ reports of alleged rape and sexual violence in Tigray State are not only substantiated by ample evidence but also oversensatinalized for gaining media hype, a prominent law expert said.
The leaked audio clip reaffirmed that the failure of the accusers as the UN agencies in Ethiopia and East Africa have not so far obtained concrete evidence that confirm the alleged reports of a widespread rape and sexual violence in Tigray State of Ethiopia.
Approached by the local media, the expert Dereje Demssie stated that meticulous information gathering and processing activities have to carry out to verify the alleged reports of sexual violence and rape against women and girls. “If the allegations are sufficiently proven by the evidence, individuals who were involved in offences should be held accountable by law.”
According to him, concrete evidence and information is crucial to confirm the unproven reports. To that end, photographs, video and audio clips and other recordings ought to be collected and analyzed in places where the crime supposedly took place. Medical results, trauma, DNA and other data also need to be collected from health institutions.
By the same token, accounts of families, neighbors and others whom assumed to have direct relations with the issue shall be documented to examine the occurrence of sexual violence and rape. “The cause has not scientifically supported by evidence and even surrendered soldiers could not assert the alleged rape.”
Ample evidence needed to be collected to confirm the claims of sexual assaults beyond a reasonable doubt; however, most of the reports relied on unconfirmed narratives and word of mouth, Dereje remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald August 25/2021
