The Devastating Cycle of Impunity in Ethiopia: Causes, consequences and solutions.

Join us for the Zoom discussion “The Devastating Cycle of Impunity in Ethiopia: Causes, consequences and solutions” on Friday, September 22nd at 10 a.m. ET / 5 p.m. Addis Ababa.

There has never been meaningful justice and accountability for grave human rights violations in Ethiopia. Changes in leadership have always come with promises of justice for abuses that happened during the previous administration, but these promises have never meaningfully been followed through. Impunity in Ethiopia has had devastating consequences for individuals, communities and the country.

Since the conflict started in Tigray in 2020, the government has persistently resisted investigations by regional and international human rights mechanisms. But given the current domestic context, justice is not likely to happen without them. Now, with the sole international justice mechanism on Ethiopia at risk of being closed, many are raising alarms of what’s at stake if justice, once again, is sidelined.

Join a panel of human rights experts for a discussion on the past, present and potential future consequences impunity have had on the country and possible solutions to the problem.

The panel will specifically be discussing:

• What justice is and who gets to define it
• Why impunity has persisted
• The impact of impunity on individuals, communities and the country
• Past and current domestic justice and accountability initiatives
• Lessons from global trends for justice and accountability for grave human rights violations
• Possible solutions

Panelists:
Fisseha Tekle, international human rights law advisor at Amnesty International

Abadir Ibrahim, Associate Director of the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School

Rita Kahsay, activist and Executive Director at Irob Anina

Moderator:
Vanessa Tsehaye, Horn of Africa campaigner at Amnesty International

Persons with disabilities who have questions about access, please contact hrp@law.harvard.edu in advance of the session.

This discussion is hosted by HRP and Amnesty International.