Sexual Violence in Ethiopia's Conflict: Daily Brief

Ethiopia's government is blocking aid from reaching the Tigray region in the north, where health facilities have been destroyed in the conflict. As a result, sexual violence survivors cannot access urgent post-rape medical care. The international community should press Ethiopia to stop abuses and allow aid access.

Iran’s population planning was once seen as a success story by international organizations. But over the past decade, a series of laws were introduced to increase the population by limiting access to contraception. These laws have undermined women’s access to reproductive healthcare. A new population law that outlaws sterilization and free distribution of contraceptives should be repealed.

Over the years, Papua New Guinea has increased the number of crimes punishable by death and continues to reject calls to abolish the death penalty. This week, during a UN review, member countries rightly criticized Papua New Guinea’s record on gender-based violence, retention of the death penalty, and laws that criminalize same-sex relations.

More countries in Europe are turning to algorithms to determine the provision of social support to vulnerable communities. But EU governments should ensure that artificial intelligence does not further exclude the people who need help by enacting regulations that respect the right to privacy and make it easier to access social services.

Sexual violence is widespread in the ongoing Ethiopia conflict. Amnesty International reports that in August, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front looted homes, and attacked and raped women in a town in the Amhara region in Ethiopia. Survivors cannot access medical care because health facilities have been destroyed.