The Cost of Silence: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ethiopia.
Conflict-related sexual violence is one of the most devastating consequences of armed conflict. Beyond the immediate physical and psychological harm, survivors often face long-term consequences including trauma, stigma, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and barriers to justice.
Across Ethiopia’s different conflict settings, survivors, journalists, researchers, and human rights organisations have documented experiences of sexual violence.
Yet, despite this documentation, the issue often remains difficult to discuss publicly, and accountability remains a major challenge.
This episode seeks to explore not only what has happened, but also the systems around it: why survivors continue to struggle to access justice, why these violations often remain under-discussed, and what meaningful accountability and solidarity could look like.
Host by Mekdim Hailu Legesse
Panel
Professor Shakuntala Banaji, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Jordin Bezabih-Ethiopian women’s rights activist
Suad Nur- Amnesty International, Horn of Africa Campaigner.
Further reading:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/ethiopia-authorities-must-investigate-sexual-violence-summary-killings-and-torture-by-ola-fighters/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/09/eritrean-soldiers-committed-war-crimes-and-possible-crimes-against-humanity-in-the-tigray-region-after-signing-of-agreement-to-end-hostilities/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/11/sexual-violence-in-northern-ethiopia/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/ethiopia-tigrayan-forces-murder-rape-and-pillage-in-attacks-on-civilians-in-amhara-towns/
Ethiopia: “I don’t know if they realized I was a person”: Rape and sexual violence in the conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia - Amnesty International
Ethiopia: End extrajudicial Executions in Amhara region, bring perpetrators to justice - Amnesty International
