Ethiopia's Troubling Journey: From Nobel Peace Prize to a Plague of Sexual Violence

A new report reveals that widespread sexual violence against women and girls continues in northern Ethiopia, even after a ceasefire was declared in November 2020 to end the civil war between the Ethiopian government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The report documents brutal and horrifying cases of sexual assault, with multiple perpetrators and physical violence often accompanying the attacks. Medical records from health facilities in Tigray show conflict-related sexual violence involving girls and women from ages 8 to 69, with nearly half of the cases occurring after the ceasefire. The groups responsible for the violence are likely associated with the governments of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Urgent humanitarian aid and support are needed for the survivors, along with efforts for greater accountability and monitoring by international organizations.