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<p>As the Minister of State responsible for human rights issues for the Foreign, Commonwealth
& Development Office, I tweeted on 11 May to express my deep sadness at the reported
murder of priests in Tigray. This is one of a deluge of horrifying reports of atrocities
coming out of Tigray. Civilians must be protected and the violence must stop.</p><p>The
G7, under the UK Presidency, issued a statement on 2 April and a Communiqué on 5 May
condemning human rights violations and abuses. The UK also condemned in the strongest
terms the reported killings of civilians via a joint statement on Ethiopia with 41
other countries at the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council. We support the UN's
call for a "zero tolerance" policy and welcome the UN Security Council's
22 April Press Statement expressing their deep concern about allegations of human
rights violations and abuses in the Tigray region. The UK will support the UN Office
for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that their joint investigations
with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission into atrocities in Tigray are independent,
transparent and impartial and that those responsible for these human rights abuses
are held to account. The Foreign Secretary, Minister for Africa and our Ambassador
in Addis continue to raise human rights issues in their discussions with the Ethiopian
government.</p><p> </p>
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