Ethiopia: Government appoints human rights commissioner and ombudsman

Ethiopia has appointed a human rights commissioner to investigate alleged abuses, parliamentary officials told IRIN last Thursday. Dr Kasa Gebre Hiwot was announced in parliament as head of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), along with Abay Tekle Beyene, as ombudsman. The government first announced its plan to effect these appointments in 2000. Earlier this year, Hilary Benn, the British secretary of state for international development, said he wanted to see progress towards implementation of the plan as he announced a tripling of aid to US $100 million over three years.