The UN Human Rights Council conducted Ethiopia’s Universal Periodic Review at its 13th Session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, March 19, 2010. Several governments and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) were participants at the Review.

It is to be recalled that Mr. Garoma Wakessa, Executive Director of the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA), presented concern about the massive land grab and their consequences in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan African countries at the 13th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 15, 2010. Watch his speech here or read the transcript here.

Watch some of the remarks on Ethiopia’s poor record of human rights (you need RealPlayer to watch these video clips):

* Ms. Manon Boisclair of Canada

* Human Rights Watch, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and Amnesty International
(Human Rights Watch calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Ms. Birtukan Midhagsa.)

* CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation

* Mr. Fisseha Yimer, Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, blatantly calls all critics as “Ethiopia bashers” instead of responding to why his government continues to violate human rights as remarked above by the NGO’s. Watch here.

More on the remarks from Human Rights Watch, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and Amnesty International:

PHILIPPE DAM, of Human Rights Watch, said continuing armed insurgencies provided no excuse for the rapidly deteriorating conditions for freedom of expression in Ethiopia. A strong, vibrant independent civil society was crucial to address certain issues. Fears that repressive ways may be hostile to civil society had proven true since in the last months, many human rights defenders had fled the country. As Ethiopia neared elections, opposition members had been arrested and detained arbitrarily. A range of more pervasive forms of repression had also been continuing. Human Rights Watch urged Ethiopia to give orders that opposition could carry out meetings without being harassed. An important step would be to facilitate investigations by United Nations Special Procedures.

HASSAN SHIRE SHEIKH, of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, commended Ethiopia for its engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process. Still, Ethiopia had failed to protect and promote the rights of human rights defenders and to create an enabling environment for civil society. Furthermore, the very broad definition of what constituted terrorism and terrorist acts had become a cause for concern. The Ministry of Justice subsequently publicly criticized human rights non-governmental organizations that had taken part in the Universal Periodic Review process. That went against the aims of the process. A significant number of human rights defenders had fled the country. The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies urged Ethiopia to refrain from arresting and detaining such groups arbitrarily.

MARIANNE LILIEBJERG, of Amnesty International, said Amnesty International welcomed Ethiopia’s support of recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review to ensure the safety of human rights defenders and their freedom to act, and to respond promptly to any complaints of harassment. There was concern, however, that Ethiopia had rejected recommendations to amend the Charities and Societies Proclamation which put at risk the ability of local and international organizations to monitor, report, advocate on and campaign against human rights abuses in Ethiopia. Amnesty International urged Ethiopia to review its position on the recommendation to amend the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to narrow its definition of terrorism and make it consistent with international human rights standards, as this legislation could be misused to restrict freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to fair trial.