Climate of intimidation against rights defenders and journalists in Ethiopia
- Pillay
GENEVA (18 July 2012) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on
Wednesday said she is seriously alarmed about the current climate of
intimidation against human rights defenders and journalists in Ethiopia,
resulting from the use of "overly broad" laws on terrorism and civil society
registration.
"The recent sentencing of 20 Ethiopians, including prominent blogger
Eskinder Nega, journalists and opposition figures, under the vague
anti-terrorism law has brought into stark focus the precarious situation of
journalists, human rights defenders and Government critics in the country,"
Pillay said.
"The very harsh sentences handed down to journalists and other Government
critics in recent months, coupled with excessive restrictions placed on
human rights NGOs in the country have had the effect of stifling dissent and
seriously undermining the freedom of opinion and expression in Ethiopia,"
she added.
"The once vibrant civil society in Ethiopia has been whittled away as the
space for them to operate freely has rapidly shrunk since the 2009 Charities
and Societies Proclamation was passed into law," the High Commissioner said.
"The dramatic reduction in the number of organisations working on human
rights issues, particularly on civil and political rights, is deeply
disturbing."
Pillay said she echoed the "grave alarm" expressed by the African Commission
on Human and Peoples' Rights about the arrest and prosecution of journalists
and political opposition members under terrorism and treason charges for
exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and
association.*
"Laws to combat terrorism must be consistent with the Government's human
rights obligations under international conventions as well as the African
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other regional instruments to which
Ethiopia is party," Pillay said. "The overly broad definitions in the July
2009 anti-terrorism law of Ethiopia result in criminalizing the exercise of
fundamental human rights," she said, adding she was also concerned about
difficult conditions in pre-trial detention and due process in the conduct
of the various trials.
"Taken together, such laws have created a climate of intimidation," Pillay
said. She also called on the Government to intensify efforts to ensure the
independence of the judiciary.
Pillay urged the Ethiopian Government to review its anti-terrorism and civil
society legislation, as well as its interpretation and application by the
courts, to ensure conformity with international human rights standards. She
offered the services of the UN Human Rights office to work with the
authorities on such a review.
ENDS
* At its 51st ordinary session (18 April - 2 May 2012), the African
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) adopted a resolution on
Ethiopia, stating it was "gravely alarmed by the arrest and prosecutions of
journalists and political opposition members, charged with terrorism and
other offences, including treason, for exercising their peaceful and
legitimate rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association." The
ACHPR resolution also condemned "the excessive restrictions placed on human
rights work by the Charities and Societies Proclamation."
UN Human Rights, country page - Ethiopia:
<
http://ohchr.org/en/countries/africaregion/pages/etindex.aspx>
http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/africaregion/pages/etindex.aspx
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Received on Wed Jul 18 2012 - 17:37:00 EDT
