Ethiopia: Information on the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH13084 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Information on the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), 1 February 1993, ETH13084, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abcb3c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Human Rights Watch Report 1993 states that the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) was formed in 1991. EHRCO is reportedly chaired by Professor Mesfin Wolde Marian (Ibid., 14-15). This source further observes that the council is an outspoken critic of the government, and, although the government has permitted it to publicize its criticisms, it "has also been subjected to a barrage of abuse in the government-controlled media" (Ibid.). Africa Research Bulletin reports that the EHRCO is the first organisation of its kind in Ethiopia. The main objectives of EHRCO are as follows: to condemn human rights violations, defend the right of communities to live in their own cultural milieux and to fight for the political rights of Ethiopians (Nov. 1-30 1991, 10364). This information is corroborated by articles which appeared in Documentation-Réfugiés of 2-15 February 1993 and The Horn of Africa Bulletin of July-August 1992. The article in Documentation-Réfugiés states that the EHRCO accused the government of illegal detention of 14 prisoners and the incommunicado detention of 25 government opponents. According to The Horn of Africa Bulletin, the EHRCO condemns the government for "murder, torture and illegal detention." Additional information on the EHRCO and its publications is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. For further information on the above-mentioned topic, please refer to the attached documents.
References
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. November 1-30 1991. "Vol 28, No. 11. Ethiopian Association."
Documentation-Réfugiés. 2-15 February 1993. No. 209. "éthiopie."
The Horn of Africa Bulletin [Summit, New Jersey]. July-August 1992. Vol. 4. No. 4."Ethiopian Human Rights Report Accuses Government of Violations."
Human Rights Watch 1993. Human Rights Watch Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Attachments
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. November 1-30 1991. "Vol 28, No. 11. Ethiopian Association."
Documentation-Réfugiés. 2-15 February 1993. No. 209. "éthiopie."
The Horn of Africa Bulletin [Summit, New Jersey]. July-August 1992. Vol. 4. No. 4."Ethiopian Human Rights Report Accuses Government of Violations."