Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

  • About
  • Key Resources
  • Publications
  • Archives
  • Contact Us
  • Ethiopia: Killings, arrests under new State of Emergency
  • Ethiopia arrests 30 journalist, bloggers and activists
  • Joint civil society letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister-designate on recent arrests of journalists and human rights defenders
  • Joint civil society letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister-designate on recent arrests of journalists and human rights defenders
  • Facebook

Powered by Genesis

You are here: Home / Home / Ethiopian: Should respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, especially during the spread of Corona Virus pandemic.

Ethiopian: Should respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, especially during the spread of Corona Virus pandemic.

24th March 2020 by Admin

AHRE asks the Ethiopian government to respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, especially during the spread of Corona Virus pandemic.


The spread of Corona virus pandemic has gravely affected the everyday life of majority of the world’s population, the economy, and the political climate. We understand and stand in cooperation with appropriate measures government and health professionals are taking so as to minimize the spread of the virus and protect human lives.


Ethiopia is one of the many countries in the world to have confirmed cases of COVID19, with confirmed individuals being treated for the virus. The Ethiopian government is using all media and telecom services to raise awareness and prevent the spread of the virus, especially this past week. However, Ethiopian government has shut down internet and telecom services western Oromia region, where the military has been conducting operations against a rebel group.

AHRE strongly urges the government to lift these restrictions, especially now where citizens need information to protect themselves and their community. It is very hard if not impossible to fight the virus without regular and accurate information, and without proper communication with health professionals, media and other concerned bodies. Families living elsewhere also have the right to communicate and to know the health status of their loved ones.

AHRE urges the Ethiopian government not to put the lives of innocents at risk by restricting internet access and telephone lines. The government must be able to find a solution to the ongoing conflict through peaceful means. Citizens in that area should not continue to pay for the bitter conflicts through their lives. We ask the government to respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, not just during this pandemic where it is very critical, but also at all times. No human being should risk losing life due to lack of communication. Not availing communication means, including internet and telephone particularly during this pandemic hinders the attempt to contain it and endangers the communities under restriction and–due to the nature of the virus–beyond.

Share this articleShare on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Home

Subscribe

Sign up to receive email updates

Previous Posts

The humanitarian crisis of the war and ethnic-based attacks on the identity of citizens must be addressed!!!

Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia September 2020 Press release

የመስከረም ወር 2013 ዓ/ም ጋዜጣዊ መግለጫ

የነሐሴ ወር 2012 የሰብአዊ መብቶች ሁኔታ በኢትዮጵያ

Human Rights situation in Ethiopia in August 2020

በኦሮሚያ ክልል ብሔርን እና ሀይማኖትን መሰረት በማድረግ የተፈፀመው ጥቃት በገለልተኛ አካል ሊጣራ ይገባዋል!