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Addis Ababa February 24, 2021 (Walta)– The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (ECHR) today released a 6-point “ Human Rights Agenda for the 2021 Elections ” that requires a public commitment from all stakeholders participating in the elections, political parties , government agencies, civil society and media organizations, in particular, to respect, protect and ensure its implementation.
According to the commission’s press release, the Agenda calls on political parties and stakeholders to commit to concrete human rights actions, firmly committed to human rights, to ensure gender sensitivity throughout the electoral process, to carry out carry out a rigorous review of all legal, political and administrative aspects. issues that cause violations of human rights, respect freedom of movement, association, expression and the right to information and, in particular, completely refrain from inciting and / or inciting hatred and acts of violence.
ECHR Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele said it is important to make human rights a central agenda of the upcoming elections and urged all stakeholders to pay urgent attention to the issues.
The 6-point Human Rights Agenda for the 2021 Elections are:
- Commitment to concrete human rights actions
Political parties must publicly commit, in their manifestos, to the tangible measures they will take to respect, guarantee the protection and fulfillment of human rights, especially with regard to the protection of the rights of vulnerable people such as women, children, people with disabilities, minorities and internally displaced persons.
- Commitment to human rights
Political parties, including the incumbent, candidates, and all opposition parties, must commit to act peacefully and respecting human rights throughout the electoral process; to publicly commit not to tolerate human rights violations by its members and / or supporters, and to establish transparent internal processes to ensure that any member who acts in violation of them is investigated and held accountable.
- Ensuring the gender sensitivity of the electoral process
Recognizing that elections play an important role in increasing women’s political participation, all political parties should design and implement strategies to increase women’s participation within their own political party, and all stakeholders should make a particular effort to ensure that the entire electoral process is gender sensitive.
- Commitment to legal and political reform
All political parties, whether they win the election or not, must commit to working together and together with other stakeholders to find a sustainable solution to the complex human rights crisis in Ethiopia; and publicly commit to carry out a rigorous review of all legal, political and administrative matters that cause human rights violations and to carry out the necessary legislative and political reforms.
- Protect freedom of movement, association, expression and access to information
Federal and regional authorities, and the security forces, in particular, must carry out their functions impartially and responsibly and guarantee that all political parties, candidates, as well as the media and civil society organizations can exercise their right to move freely. and to freely express their opinion, access information, association and all other political rights without restriction, prohibition, discrimination, undue interference or retaliation measures.
6. Completely refrain from incitement, hate speech and violence.
All political parties, candidates, media and civil society organizations, as well as influential people in the community, must commit to completely refrain from inciting and hate speech and other behaviors and acts that provoke human rights violations and refrain from any act of violence.
