Condemnation of Sexual Violence Perpetrated by Colonel Haileselassie Fetene (Wdi Fetene) and Demand for Justice
Date: January 7, 2025
The Tigrayan Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice International strongly condemns the abhorrent acts of rape and sexual violence committed against Tigrayan women—including underage girls and resistance fighters—during the genocidal war in Tigray. These crimes, reportedly carried out by Colonel Haileselassie Fetene, widely known as Wdi Fetene, represent egregious violations of human rights and international law.
The atrocities attributed to Colonel Wdi Fetene are part of a broader pattern of systemic sexual violence and gender-based brutality committed during the Tigraygenocidalwar. Such acts echo the war crimes perpetrated by Eritrean and Amhara militias, along with the Ethiopian federal army, using sexual violence as a weapon of psychological warfare, humiliation, and ethnic subjugation.
Sexual violence as a weapon of war constitutes a crime against humanity and a violation of international legal standards, including the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). We call on the international community to respond with urgency to ensure accountability for these crimes.
Call to Action: Justice and Accountability for Crimes Committed by Colonel Wdi Fetene
We urge immediate action from the following bodies:
- The Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) Leadership:
Dismiss Colonel Haileselassie Fetene from any position of authority.
Conduct a transparent and independent investigation into the allegations of sexual violence under his command.
Cooperate fully with international legal bodies and human rights organizations to ensure prosecution.
- The Tigray Interim Government and International Legal Institutions:
Officially recognize sexual violence as a weapon of war and prosecute offenders under war crimes statutes.
Conduct independent investigations into the widespread use of rape and torture against Tigrayan women during the war.
Establish truth and justice commissions to expose violations and provide reparations to survivors.
- The United Nations and International Human Rights Organizations:
Treat rape and sexual violence as serious violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.
Appoint independent investigators to assess the scale of sexual crimes committed during the Tigray conflict.
Provide resources and support for Tigrayan women’s rights groups, including legal aid, psychosocial services, and rehabilitation programs.
- International Women’s Rights Groups and Media Platforms:
Amplify the voices of survivors and demand accountability for perpetrators.
Raise global awareness about the crimes committed against Tigrayan women and girls.
Engage in advocacy campaigns to end impunity and provide platforms for survivors to share their stories.
Sexual Violence as a Violation of Human Rights
Rape and sexual violence are:
Violations of bodily integrity, dignity, personal security, and freedom.
Attacks on physical and mental health, often leaving survivors with lifelong trauma.
Tools of ethnic cleansing when used as instruments of genocidal violence against vulnerable communities.
Breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The genocidal war on Tigray has yielded countless reports of mass gang rapes, torture, and sexual slavery committed by Eritrean, Amhara militias, and Ethiopian federal forces. Figures like Colonel Haileselassie Fetene (Wdi Fetene) have further disgraced their roles as protectors by exploiting their positions to perpetrate atrocities.
We demand a full investigation into these crimes and the establishment of an international tribunal to bring the perpetrators to justice.
International Women’s Rights Organizations: A Call for Vigilance and Action
We call on leading global women’s rights organizations, including:
UN Women
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice
To:
- Monitor and report cases of sexual violence against Tigrayan women and girls.
- Advocate for legal reforms and accountability mechanisms to address wartime sexual crimes.
- Provide technical and material support for survivor-led campaigns for justice.
- Mobilize resources for rehabilitation programs, ensuring survivors have access to mental health services and legal representation.
Public Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns
We call on Tigrayan advocacy groups, civic organizations, and media outlets to:
Expose perpetrators and their enablers through public awareness campaigns.
Demand immediate accountability and justice for survivors.
Organize marches, social media campaigns, and online activism under slogans such as:
“Justice for Tigrayan Women!”
“Stop Rape as a Weapon of War!”
“End Impunity—Prosecute War Criminals Now!”
“No Peace Without Justice for Survivors!”
Key Demands for Accountability
- Immediate Arrest and Prosecution:
Colonel Haileselassie Fetene (Wdi Fetene) and others involved in crimes of rape and sexual violence must face dismissal, arrest, and prosecution under domestic and international law. - Independent Investigations:
International investigative bodies must be established to probe war crimes, particularly focusing on gender-based violence and ethnic targeting in Tigray. - Support for Survivors:
Provide trauma counseling, medical care, and rehabilitation programs for survivors.
Ensure survivors receive legal representation and the opportunity to testify before courts and truth commissions.
Final Message
The systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war constitutes an international crime that demands immediate condemnation and prosecution. The atrocities committed by Colonel Haileselassie Fetene (Wdi Fetene) and others reflect a targeted genocidal agenda against Tigrayan women and girls.
We must break the silence, demand accountability, and deliver justice.
The Tigrayan Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice International remains resolute in its pursuit of truth, justice, and dignity for the people of Tigray.
Justice for Tigray! Justice for Women! End Impunity Now!
Contact Information
For inquiries, partnerships, or further information, please contact:
Tigrayan Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice International (TAHRJ)
Email: TAHRJ@outlook.com
