We call on the world to pay attention to the suffering of women and girls in Tigray, Ethiopia. Women and girls in Tigray are targeted for rape and sexual violence by fighting forces. Troops Militia rape, abduct women and girls in Tigray conflict. This is according to a report released by Amnesty International in August 2021.
Democracy in Africa seems to be regressing as conflict ravages different parts of the continent and causes the collapse of democratic institutions, economic and social infrastructure and creates a fertile environment for the violation of human rights with impunity. We have noted with concern the situation in Tigray, Ethiopia where women and girls are raped, abducted by the Troops Militia. This conflict between the government of Ethiopia and its forces in Tigray has been going on since November 2020 – https://www.nytimes.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-explained.html.
According to Refugees International more than 6 million people are affected by the conflict and 2.2 million have been displaced living in famine conditions. This has affected a majority of women and girls. Staff at Tigray’s biggest hospital told the Guardian earlier this month that patients were dying due to a lack of medical supplies. According to the Director of WHO “there is nowhere on earth where the health of millions of people is more under threat than in Tigray.”
One Billion Rising in Africa and Globally rise against sexual and gender-based abuse related to conflict which has seen women’s bodies being violated through the use as weapons of war in Tigray where rape and femicide have been used as tools used by warring parties.
We call for an end of war, an end to the blockade, and demand urgent humanitarian support to the Women, girls and all citizens of Tigray in Ethiopia.
We Rise in solidarity with the women and girls of Tigray against any form of sexual exploitation that they are subjected to.
We call for Regional and International Bodies (United Nations, African Union, international media among others) to pay urgent attention and bring focus to Tigray.
Ethiopia is bleeding, we call for Peace in Tigray.
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