“We will make sure that Tigray’s women can’t have children.” This message, handwritten in a plasticized note several times, was found by health workers inside the cervix of a rape survivor in the eastern zone of Tigray (Ethiopia).The woman had gone to a health center suffering from persistent abdominal pain and smelly vaginal flow. When checking with a spike, the medical staff warned the presence of foreign bodies. After a complicated surgical intervention they managed to extract eight screws, rubble and the piece of manuscript paper. Later, in a review, they removed a metallic clipper that the woman had housed in her uterus. According to the nurse who attended her, her case was not an isolated fact: they had found more notes inside their patients.
This is one of the testimonies collected In the new report You can never give birth: sexual and reproductive violence related to the conflict in Ethiopiapublished by Human Rights Physicians (PHR, for its acronym in English) and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of africa (ojah, for its acronym in english). Research is the moast complete to date using medical tests and the perspectives of health workers to document sexual and reproductive violence in the Ethiopian regions of Tigray, amhara and Afar between November 2020, date of the beginning of the war, and July 2024.The toilets indicate that, according to the testimonies of the survivors, sexual violence in Tigray was perpetrated in most cases by members of the Eritrean army, which at that time fought in support of the Ethiopian government. Other authors were the National defense Force of Ethiopia (Endf) and groups such as the Special Forces of Amhara and the Militias Fano.The research analyzes 515 medical records, more than 600 surveys with health and in -depth interviews with community leaders, nurses, doctors or psychiatrists. The study, which expands the findings of a report published in 2023, “confirms that crimes against humanity in Tigray related to sexual and reproductive violence have been committed, especially against women and girls, including the crime of forced pregnancy.”
Ethnic identity
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In Tigray,73% of the health workers surveyed treated survivors who reported that perpetrators used a language that expressed their intention to destroy their ability to reproduce or have children. And 76% of them observed higher rates of sexual violence according to the ethnic identity of the patients.
“Thes patterns reflect an intention shared by the perpetrators, which in tigray was specifically causing damage to the reproductive capacity of the Tigrayanas to prevent births within this ethnic group,” explains El País by video call Lindsey green, deputy director of research of PHR and co -author of the report.”This shows the need to investigate these actions more thoroughly as possible crimes of extermination or genocide,” he adds.
In a testimony of the report, a Tigray psychologist reported how a young woman broke her arm before violating her, trying to extract a contraceptive implant with the aim of forcing her to become pregnant: “This was the work of the Eritrea forces (Shabbia), who announced it openly: ‘You will give birth to our children and, with it, the Tigraya ethnicity will be exterminated.”
In addition, 91% of respondents served patients who had suffered multiple violations, with an average of three aggressors at the same
Ethiopia Faces Escalating Sexual Violence Crisis Amidst Conflict and Aid Cuts
A new report highlights a deeply concerning surge in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions. The report, released by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), details widespread atrocities and warns that cuts to crucial health funding are exacerbating the crisis and hindering support for survivors. The findings underscore a critical need for accountability, increased aid, and a commitment to international law.
Report Findings: A Pattern of Atrocities
The PHR report, based on interviews with over 250 survivors and healthcare workers, reveals a harrowing pattern of sexual violence linked to the ongoing conflicts. The report focuses heavily on Tigray, where widespread sexual assault was perpetrated during the conflict between November 2020 and November 2022. Researchers found evidence suggesting these acts were part of a intentional strategy to terrorize and control the population.”The scale of sexual violence in Tigray is staggering,” explains researcher green, as reported in the original source. “there, the authors also expressed their intention to take revenge for the crimes committed in Tigray,” detailing that in Amhara and Afar, the TPLF was reported as the most frequent aggressor.
The report also details sexual violence in the amhara and Afar regions, attributing it to a “important lack of response” to the atrocities committed during the conflict. This impunity, the report argues, has normalized violence and silenced survivors. As Thomas Mchale,PHR Public Health Director and co-author of the report,states,”When perpetrators do not face consequences,violence is normalized.survivors are silenced and peace is still fragile.”
Impact of Aid Cuts and Escalating Conflict
The report emphasizes the detrimental impact of recent cuts to international aid on Ethiopia’s already strained healthcare system. These cuts divert resources from essential services, including those needed to support survivors of sexual violence.
“It is indeed key to restore the financing of the health system in Ethiopia, which constitutes a fundamental link for survivors, not only to access health care and mental health they need, but also to legal, financial and economic support,” Green adds.
Compounding the issue is a recent escalation of conflict, not only regionally within Ethiopia but also involving Eritrea. Green notes this escalation underscores the “urgency” of addressing impunity related to SGBV. Reuters reported in July 2024 that Eritrean forces had crossed the border into Ethiopia, raising concerns about renewed instability.
Calls for Accountability and international Action
The authors of the report are calling on all parties involved in the conflicts to respect international law and prioritize the rehabilitation of survivors. They specifically recommend:
Credible Documentation: The international community should guarantee independant documentation of crimes committed in Ethiopia.
Full Accountability: Perpetrators must be held accountable through regional justice mechanisms and international justice systems. Restored Funding: International aid to Ethiopia’s health system must be restored to ensure survivors have access to extensive care.
A Tigrayan health worker quoted in the report expressed pessimism about achieving justice at the local level, stating, “It is not just about imprisonment.” this sentiment highlights the deep-seated challenges to accountability within the country.
Key Takeaways
Widespread SGBV: Ethiopia is experiencing a widespread crisis of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar.
Impunity Fuels Violence: A lack of accountability for perpetrators is normalizing violence and silencing survivors.
Aid Cuts Exacerbate Crisis: Cuts to international aid are hindering access to essential healthcare and support services for survivors.
Escalating Conflict: Renewed conflict and border disputes are increasing the urgency of addressing the crisis.
International Action Needed: The international community must prioritize documentation, accountability, and aid to Ethiopia.
Looking Ahead
The situation in Ethiopia remains precarious. Addressing the crisis of sexual violence requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes survivor support,accountability for perpetrators,and a commitment to lasting peace. without sustained international attention and action,the trauma and suffering will continue,and the path to reconciliation will remain blocked.