Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Tigray: Comments on the Broken Promises report by Physicians for Human Rights and Tghat Media’s interview “Healing Sexual Violence with Feven Teclehaimanot”

Physicians for Human Rights recently released Broken Promises: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Before and After the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Tigray, Ethiopia. The researchers’ goal was to understand survivor and perpetrator characteristics, and the types of conflict-related sexual violence that took place in Tigray. A key finding is that conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray has continued after the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Survivors are primarily adult women, followed by minors, and the type of sexual violence was most often unprotected gang rape perpetrated by Ethiopian or Eritrean armed forces, followed by ethnic militias. Clinical manifestations presented by survivors include PTSD, depression, STIs and unintended pregnancy. PHR makes recommendations to the:

Ethiopian and Eritrean governments
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Joint Investigative Team
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
greater international community

Regrettably, PHR does not address the Tigrayan diaspora, who have led efforts in getting war crimes in Tigray on the global agenda and who will be important actors in the continued advocacy and re-development of Tigray. They are Tigrayans too, after all.

For local commentary on conflict-related violence, see Tghat Media’s interview with psychologist Feven Teclehaimanot. As of 2022, Feven has treated 331 Tigrayan SBGV survivors. She shares victim stories and explains psychological and psychosocial consequences faced by survivors and collective Tigrayan society. Important points from her interview include that:

survivors experienced rape by multiple perpetrators from different armed forces simultaneously (which she claims is uncommon in literature she’s explored on the topic)
Tigrayan civilians were raped by armed forces in many types of public locations and gathering spots (consider the significance of this)
according to survivors, perpetrators claimed they derived no sexual satisfaction from their rape crimes, as they didn’t want any intimate contact with Tigrayans. Their stated goal was to dilute Tigrayan bloodlines and inflict psychological damage to survivors, their families, and community members who witnessed their acts of sexual violence
primary psychological consequences include PTSD and depression, followed by anxiety. Social stigma experienced by survivors is a key concern.
conflict-related sexual violence directly contributes to the disruption of Tigrayan social fabric, which undermines cultural coping mechanisms and social cohesion that will impact how Tigrayan society moves forward
moving forward, support for community-focused rehabilitation initiatives should be a priority, as should capacity-building for mental health clinicians working in Tigray.

At the end, Feven mentions working on a book,and developing a collaborative initiative with other Tigrayan organizations to support and provide funding to survivors. It’d be great to find an update on this and support her work.

Back to PHR’s report and comments on their recommendations:

Most importantly, in Broken Promises, PHR does not explicitly advocate for what Tigrayan civilians, (including victims of conflict-related violence), have repeatedly asked for, which is:

1) removal of ENDF, EDF, and ethnic militias from all occupied areas of Tigray
2) resuming delivery of all possible food aid into Tigray.

Advocacy and research efforts by any organization or institution that does not amplify these requests is not survivor-focused and prolongs the siege in Tigray. Tigray is in no way post-conflict, despite external narratives suggesting otherwise.

Questions to PHR about future research and advocacy efforts:

Will PHR initiate and lead a public conversation with Dr. Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, and her entire administration? PHR, demand detailed and explicit public commentary- her tenure is tainted by the blood of hundreds of thousands Ethiopians. She needs to give us all a real answer.
Will PHR publicly question fellow physician colleagues, public health professionals, global health institutions, universities, and charities around the world who have publicly engaged the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health without questioning their involvement in the Tigray war? Why they have been silent in Dr. Tadesse’s presence? Why has she been awarded prizes and lauded for her leadership during active wartime?
Will PHR publicly advocate for their physician and health provider colleagues in Tigray? They have been abandoned, undermined, assaulted, and killed.
Will PHR publicly address USAID for their decision to cut off food aid to Tigray? There are many discussions to be had about this decision and how it was made.

For the past three years, Tigrayans have clearly communicated their needs. Let’s listen and act accordingly.