Urging the United Nations to recognize the #TigrayGenocide

In the heart of the Horn of Africa, the Tigray region has been the epicenter of unrelenting violence and suffering since the onset of conflict in November 2020. However, the gravity of this human tragedy is not merely due to warfare but a systematically orchestrated genocide. To date, over 600,000 Tigrayans have been brutally killed, and more than 120,000 women have been subjected to sexual violence, with numerous accounts of severe sexual assault. Tigrayans residing outside of Tigray at this time were subjected to concentration camps and arbitrary arrests in accordance with Ethiopian officials of which occurred within the span of only 2 years.

Despite these harrowing figures, the United Nations and the international community have hesitated to classify these actions as genocide. This reluctance undermines the global promise of ‘Never Again’ and fails to hold the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments accountable for their actions. Genocide is defined under international law as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The atrocities occurring in Tigray align disturbingly well with this definition.

Recognizing these acts as genocide is not just a matter of semantics; it’s a critical step toward meaningful intervention and justice for the victims. Accurate terminology would mandate international legal obligations to protect Tigrayans from further harm and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Concrete steps can be taken by the UN to address this issue. This includes commissioning independent investigations to fully document the scale of atrocities and utilizing the findings to apply direct pressure on the involved governments. Moreover, increased protection and aid for survivors of sexual violence must be prioritized, alongside bolstered support for human rights organizations working tirelessly in the region.

The world cannot turn a blind eye as history repeats itself. The voices of the affected must be amplified; their stories must be told. Pressuring the United Nations to recognize the genocide in Tigray is a call to action for all those who believe in human rights and justice.

Please join us by signing the petition below in demanding that the UN take immediate action by properly categorizing the brutalities in Tigray as genocide. Sign this petition to stand with the victims and push for an accurate representation of their plight on the international stage.