UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
60th session
General Debate Item 2
Joint Statement on the human rights situation in Ethiopia
Mr. Chair,
I am making this statement on behalf of a group of 42 countries.
As a member of the Human Rights Council, we look forward to continuing to engage constructively with Ethiopia. We welcome Ethiopia’s constructive engagement with the 4th cycle of the UPR, and look forward to supporting the implementation of its recommendations.
We remain concerned about the challenging human rights situation in Ethiopia, including constraints on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association less than a year before the elections in 2026. We regret the closure of civic space in Ethiopia, including recent intimidation and suspension of civil society organisations as well as intimidation of independent media and journalists, and call for transparent investigations into these events. In this context, and following the recent amendments to legislation regarding media and against money laundering, we take note of the concerns expressed by civil society on the proposed amendments to the civil society law. We encourage the Government to constructively cooperate with the UN and other protection actors and respect their independence. Read more…