News: Commission cautions against silencing rights organizations under dubious claims
Addis Abeba – The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has expressed concern about recent restrictions on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in Ethiopia, which has seen the suspension of five CSOs in a span of two weeks.
EHRC said it has been looking into reports that in recent weeks alone, several civil society organizations (CSOs) received notifications from the Authority accusing them of engaging in activities “beyond their stated objectives, in violation of their obligation to operate independently from political involvement, and in ways that harm national interests,” which “prompted the Commission to launch an inquiry based on complaints and information submitted.”
The Commission “found it troubling” that while it was following previously issued restrictions, the CSOA issued additional notices to two more CSOs working in the area of advocacy for human rights, accusing them of “legal violations” without “substantiating the claims.”
The notices targeted the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC).
EHRC urged the CSOA to “expedite its investigations” into the allegations leading to these repeated restrictions on CSOs in order to avoid “undue interference with their organizational and associational rights, in accordance with civic freedoms.”
The Commission also called for a swift conclusion of the said investigations by the Authority to allow these organizations “to resume their operations without unnecessary delays or negative repercussions on their daily activities.”
Background
The suspension yesterday of EHRCO and EHRDC follows the re-suspension last week of the Centre for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) by the Authority, just days after their previous suspension had been lifted.
The two organizations, along with the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), were initially suspended by ACSO, citing concerns about an alleged “lack of political neutrality” and activities deemed contrary to the “national interest.” While the suspension was briefly lifted, it was promptly re-imposed on the two organizations.
Several international human rights organizations have criticized these actions, calling them a significant blow to civic space in Ethiopia. Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Ethiopian authorities to “immediately reverse” the decision, with Deputy Africa Director Laetitia Bader stating, “Ethiopian authorities are squeezing shut whatever space remains for independent rights groups to operate in the country.”
Amnesty International condemned the suspensions as part of a “growing crackdown on civic space,” while the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) labeled the decision a “major setback” for civil society, attributing it to political motives. AS
