By Ebi Kesiena
Twenty-seven civil society organizations in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have issued a call for urgent action from regional authorities to address the rising incidence of gender-based violence against women.
In a collective statement on Tuesday, the organizations denounced the violence, kidnappings, and killings targeting women throughout the region. They also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and accountability within current procedures.
According to a report from Mekelle City Police, the past eleven months have seen 12 women murdered, 80 raped, 10 kidnapped, and 178 subjected to attempted murder.
The groups also criticized the Tigray interim administration’s security and justice institutions for their failure to prevent these crimes and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
Head of the Rise and Shine Women’s Protection Center, one of the 27 groups, Selamawit Giday speaking on the devastating societal impact of this violence, urged the Tigray Regional Administration to ensure that its security and justice institutions enforce the law with integrity, impartiality, and accountability.
This call to action follows large demonstrations held in Mekelle on June 25, 2024, where women gathered at the city’s Romanat Square demanding an end to the violence and justice for victims.
Hadush Tesfa, head of the regional justice bureau, assured demonstrators of the regional government’s commitment to addressing the issue, emphasizing ongoing efforts to maintain law and order and bring perpetrators to justice.
A report by Refugees International, cited by Addis Standard in April 2023, estimated that 40-50% of Tigrayan girls and women experienced gender-based violence during the war. The report revealed that over 80% of these victims reported being raped.
The civil society organizations stressed that these crimes have continued despite the ceasefire agreement, hindering Tigray’s path to peace.
