OHCHR Monitoring on General Protection/Human Rights in areas of return and newly affected areas with fresh conflicts in Ethiopia In 2018, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNFPA and UNICEF as members of the Protection Cluster developed an inter-agency project on ‘protection monitoring and capacity development for displacement affected communities in West Guji’. In November 2018, OHCHR commenced the implementation of the project and deployed four human rights monitors to Bule Hora. OHCHR is still monitoring along with joint protection cluster monitoring team, and is engaged in advocacy, capacity building and other intervention activities in five woredas of West Guji and parts of Gedeo zone. OHCHR has deployed a monitoring team in Wollega (based in Nekemte) and Fafan zones in Somali region. The four monitors of OHCHR are undertaking various protection and human right monitoring, advocacy, referral and intervention works in the project areas. The office has been actively working with government partners, the protection cluster and other humanitarian partners on various protection and human right issues. The project cycle for OHCHR will end in February 2020. However, the project cycle for protection cluster partners operating on the ground will continue afterwards. OHCHR has also undertaken assessment missions and quick monitoring missions independently and jointly with the protection cluster in Central Gondar in December 2018, March, September and November 2019. Similarly, the office has made human right monitoring during the July violence and November referendum in Sidama to identify, record, and advocate for accountability and alleged human right violations, with the ultimate objective of advocating with relevant government authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and take preventive measures for the future. OHCHR believes its continued presence would contribute towards better identification of protection gaps, referral of cases, advocacy with government and humanitarian partners to heed to human rights standards, and hence help improve the productivity of the protection cluster and protection of the rights of affected and vulnerable people. 

Through this project, OHCHR will continue providing technical support and expertise to the protection cluster, government authorities and humanitarian partners on various human rights and protection issues in West Guji, Central Gondar, Fafan and Sitti, East Herraghe, East/West Wollega and Kamashi Zones -IDP affected areas. In addition, the monitoring, documentation, referral and advocacy activities of OHCHR will contribute to strengthen IDPs/returnees understanding of their basic rights, claim with authorities and humanitarian partners and get them addressed. OHCHR will build up on the progress it has made and will carry out human rights monitoring and advocacy and capacity building beyond January/February 2020. For these reasons, OHCHR requires additional funding to continue its operations and provide advocacy and support to the protection cluster, humanitarian partners, the government of Ethiopia in the realization of the human rights of IDPs/returnees and affected populations more broadly. In addition, OHCHR will provide technical support to EHRC in order them to monitor and advocate human rights mainstreaming and accountability of alleged violations.