A deeply disturbing new report by the Commission of Inquiry on Tigray Genocide (CITG) has revealed a horrifying pattern of sexual and gender-based violence that took place during the two-year war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The report exposes systematic rape, sexual slavery, forced impregnation, and other brutal acts used intentionally as weapons of war, targeting women and girls in what investigators describe as one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of the century.
According to the findings, hundreds of thousands of women and girls suffered unimaginable abuse between 2020 and 2022, with ages of victims ranging from just two years old to 88. The commission documented cases of survivors being repeatedly assaulted, often in front of their families, and in some instances, abducted and held as sexual slaves by armed groups. Nuns, pregnant women, and even elderly women were among the victims, painting a horrific picture of the cruelty inflicted upon civilians.
The report further details cases of severe physical injuries such as obstetric fistula, forced impregnation, and deliberate transmission of HIV. Medical professionals who treated survivors described the assaults as “acts of extermination,” designed not only to terrorize individuals but to destroy the social and cultural fabric of the Tigrayan people. Many survivors continue to suffer long-term psychological trauma, displacement, and social stigma, while thousands remain missing or unaccounted for.
Commissioner Yemane Zeray of the CITG explained that the investigation was based on over 2,000 witness statements, extensive medical records, and field visits conducted across displacement camps and local communities. Investigators worked closely with humanitarian organizations, local leaders, and healthcare providers to verify accounts and document patterns of violence. He noted that the findings demonstrate a clear and coordinated strategy to use sexual violence as a weapon of ethnic cleansing.
“The evidence gathered points to the deliberate use of sexual violence as a tool of war, intimidation, and destruction,” Zeray said. “What happened in Tigray was not random. It was systematic, organized, and aimed at breaking the spirit of an entire population.”
The commission’s report calls for urgent international intervention, demanding independent and impartial investigations to ensure justice and accountability for the victims. It also warns against politically influenced domestic processes that could obstruct the truth or protect perpetrators. The CITG urged the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments to allow full access to investigators from the United Nations and other global human rights bodies to carry out transparent inquiries.
Human rights advocates across the world have echoed these calls, insisting that survivors deserve more than sympathy — they deserve justice. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also reiterated their long-standing demands for accountability, stating that the culture of impunity in conflict zones must end.
Beyond the statistics, the report captures the long-lasting impact of this violence on survivors and their communities. Many women have been left widowed, displaced, and ostracized due to stigma surrounding sexual assault. Healthcare facilities in Tigray remain overwhelmed, with limited resources to provide post-trauma care, counselling, or medical treatment. International aid agencies have warned that without sustained attention and support, thousands of victims may never recover physically or emotionally.
Observers say the findings could become a turning point in the global response to sexual violence in conflict. The report has reignited debate about how international law can be strengthened to protect vulnerable populations and hold those responsible for war crimes accountable.
As Ethiopia continues to navigate post-war recovery, the shadow of the Tigray atrocities still looms large. Survivors like 32-year-old Selam (not her real name) told investigators that while the war may have ended, the pain remains constant. “They took everything from us our homes, our bodies, our dignity,” she said. “All we want now is for the world to hear our story and for justice to be done.”
The CITG’s findings serve as a chilling reminder that sexual violence remains one of the most devastating and under-prosecuted crimes of war. With mounting global attention on the Tigray crisis, the report calls for the international community to move beyond condemnation and take concrete steps toward justice, rehabilitation, and prevention, ensuring that such horrors are never repeated.
Leave a comment