The Australian Greens are deeply concerned about the situation in Tigray and the findings of human rights abuses that are detailed in the New Lines Institute report Genocide in Tigray: Serious breaches of international law in the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia, and paths to accountability.
This report found that since the beginning of the Ethiopian-Tigrayan conflict in 2020, around 700,000 Tigrayans have been killed, with civilians making up the majority of the death poll. The report also found that over 2.5 million people have been internally displaced, 10,000 women and girls have been subject to gender based violence, and only 3% of health facilities have been left functioning. This has resulted in up to 5 million people needing emergency food assistance and over 40,000 people facing famine-like conditions. We have heard accounts of inequitable and ineffective aid distribution, which has resulted in essential humanitarian aid not being delivered to people who need it.
There have been credible claims that the actions taken by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces against Tigrayans amount to genocide. There is also credible evidence that members of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front have committed war crimes. This is highly disturbing, and accountability for perpetrators must be delivered.
The Australian Greens believe that the Australian Government must always act to prevent and oppose violations of human rights law, ensure individuals, entities or states that violate human rights law are held accountable and that urgency and transparency are crucial when delivering emergency aid and humanitarian relief.
The Australian Greens recognise that the Australian-Tigrayan community are frustrated by the lack of coverage given to this crisis by the Australian media and the insufficient action taken by the Australian government, especially in comparison to other international conflicts.
We are calling on the Australian Government to use its role in international forums to actively support efforts to ensure accountability for perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Tigray. We are also calling on the Australian Government to review the distribution of Australian aid in Tigray.
The Australian Greens are in solidarity with the Tigray community, and will continue to oppose violence, human rights abuses, and war crimes in Tigray and wherever they occur.
