UN human rights chief calls on Ethiopia to allow dissent

Ethiopia should allow greater space for freedom of expression and dissent to cope with increased demands for political reforms in the country, according to a statement Thursday by Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The statement was made during the conclusion of a three day visit to Ethiopia at the invitation of the government.

The visit came in the heels of previous requests by the UN rights commissioner for it to be allowed to access parts of Ethiopia that had unrest in 2016.

The Ethiopian government had refused these requests though a government mandated body, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission released a report last month detailing the deaths of 669 people in three regions of the country.

Al Hussein also urged review of the mass media law; the anti-terrorism proclamation and the civil society organization legislation of Ethiopia which he said are open to abuse.

Al Hussein however praised the Ethiopian government for its progress on meeting its people's social, cultural and economic rights and welcomed their move to invite him to visit the country.

The UN rights chief who plans to come early 2018 for another visit, expressed hope his team will eventually be allowed to visit protest areas soon. Enditem