The government of Ethiopia has made a statement in a press release by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that Ethiopia is extremely disappointed to have witnessed once again the use of the United Nations Human Rights Council by some to advance their politically motivated agenda.
In the press release the Ethiopian government stated that regardless of repeated requests by it for the Council not to hold a special session but rather engage in a constructive manner and work in a collaborative spirit with the country concerned, a majority votes in the Council have been achieved to push through with its objective.
The statement said that it is done against the recommendations by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission which were submitted to the President of the Human Rights Council on 14 December 2021 and to all members of the Council requesting it to unequivocally support the implementation of the Joint Investigation Team’s recommendations, the work of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force and for the OHCHR and the EHRC to continue with further joint investigations.
The Ethiopian government statement hover described the action by some in the Council as an attempt to find an alternative way of meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and to serve no other purpose except exacerbating the situation on the ground.
According to the Ethiopian government, it said more worrisome is the trend in the proliferation of establishing mechanisms through the Council in most cases have failed to attain their objectives and have become mere tools of imposition on countries who refuse interference in their internal affairs.
The Ethiopian government has however said that it categorically rejects the special session and that its politically motivated outcome undermines trust in the work of the Council, and most importantly, the territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and political independence of Ethiopia.
The statement also stated that Ethiopia would like to reiterate that it will not cooperate with the established mechanism imposed upon it against its consent.
While thanking those who have expressed their support and solidarity, Ethiopia reiterates that its commitment to continue with its efforts to fulfill its obligations under international law to respect and protect human rights.
No More to double standards; No More to unilateral coercive measures; and No More to meddling in internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
