We thank the Commission for its oral update and reiterate our support for the Commission’s mandate.

Australia welcomes the African Union-brokered peace agreement in Ethiopia. This landmark accord offers the Ethiopian people an opportunity to achieve enduring and lasting peace. We recognise the progress made towards implementing the agreement, however there is still significant work ahead. It is vital for all parties to the conflict to respect and uphold the commitments of the peace agreement.

Australia is encouraged by improving humanitarian access in northern Ethiopia yet notes many challenges remain. We urge all parties to continue working together to remove barriers to humanitarian assistance reaching all affected communities.

We remain gravely concerned by the human rights abuses and violations committed during the conflict in Ethiopia. Reports of sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial killings, and the use of starvation against civilian populations must be fully investigated.

As Ethiopia enters a process of reconciliation, a country-wide transitional justice framework would provide justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses.

We ask how the Commission and international community could help facilitate transitional justice in Ethiopia?