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<p>Any list of priorities has to be limited. Our concept of Human Rights Priority
Countries is not intended to an exhaustive list of trouble spots. Nor is it a homogenous
group. We have chosen to focus on 30 countries where we judge the UK can make a real
difference on human rights over the duration of this Parliament. Our concerns are
not limited to those countries; our interests are global. The Foreign and Commonwealth
Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy highlights specific human rights
issues, which we are keen to work on with other countries to address. We have consistently
expressed our concern at the human rights situation in Ethiopia, and have made representations
specifically in response to the Oromo protests.</p><p> </p><p>We remain deeply concerned
about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia and the reported deaths of a number
of protestors, and have repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian government
over the ongoing situation in that region. The Secretary of State for International
Development, the Rt Hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), raised our concerns
with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 21 January. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend
East (James Duddridge), raised our concerns with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr
Tedros, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 27 January. Our Ambassador to
Ethiopia also raised the issue with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 26 April.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns with the
Ethiopian government, including on the use of force. We will continue to work with
our partners, including the US, in urging the Ethiopian government to use restraint
in their handling of the protests in Oromia.</p>
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