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Take all necessary and appropriate steps, including the issuance
of clear public orders to the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), to stop
immediately the commission of crimes against humanity and other human rights
violations in Gambella.
Conduct an independent, impartial and public investigation into
human rights violations committed by ENDF forces in Gambella. Ensure that the
investigation examines ENDF abuses that have occurred anywhere in Gambella at
least from the time of the December 2003 massacre up to the present. Provide
protection for victims and witnesses who come forward to participate in this
investigation.
Investigate and prosecute ENDF personnel and government officials
at all levels who are alleged to have been involved in the commission of crimes
against humanity or other human rights violations in Gambella. Suspend from duty
all personnel, including commanding officers, directly implicated in serious
abuses or culpable as a matter of command responsibility. Investigate in
particular the commanding officers of the ENDF garrisons near Illea, Pochalla
and Gok Dipatch, as well as federal security officials in Gambella.
Allow and facilitate full and independent access by international
humanitarian organizations, international and national human rights monitors,
journalists and donor government representatives to Anuak communities in
Gambella.
Provide appropriate human rights training to all members of the
Ethiopian armed forces.
Provide adequate and speedy compensation to civilians who have
suffered human rights abuse, theft or destruction of property by ENDF forces.
Provide assistance for projects to assist rape victims, who have
special needs. Such assistance should include outreach, medical services, and
trauma counseling and testing and access to anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy and
treatment.
Ensure that any peacekeepers provided by the Ethiopian government
for UN peacekeeping operations are vetted to ensure that they have not been
involved in the human rights violations committed in Gambella or other regions
of the country.
Deploy significant numbers of human rights monitors to the
Gambella region to monitor, investigate and publicly report on abuses against
civilians by the ENDF, militias or armed groups.
Publicly insist that the Ethiopian government conduct a thorough,
public and independent investigation into ENDF abuses in Gambella. Closely
monitor the progress of government investigations and take prompt and appropriate
action in response to their findings.
Call for the government to permit access to the region to
international humanitarian agencies, international and national human rights
monitors, the media and diplomatic representatives.
If they have not done so, make military assistance to Ethiopia contingent on the governments adherence to international human rights and
humanitarian law and exclude any assistance to units implicated in human rights
violations. All suppliers should actively monitor the use of any weapons or
non-lethal items to ensure they are not being utilized to commit abuses.
If providing military assistance, pressure the government to
abide by its commitments under international law. Donor states should publicly
condemn specific violations, including the widespread enforced disappearances
committed by security forces, and urge the government to address them.
Demand that ENDF and government officials found to have
participated in ongoing human rights violations be held accountable.
Publicly denounce violence directed against highlanders. Take
concrete actions to prevent such violence and facilitate the prosecution of
individuals who carry it out.
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