Human Rights Organizations’ (HROs) need to be accurate by including all the necessary information as they are crucial for decision making, policy direction and research, scholars suggest.
They also point out that these organizations are independent entities that advocate human rights by identifying their vision, collecting data, analysis and publication, promotion of public awareness through conducting institutional advocacy, and lobbying to halt human right violations.
According to Costantinos Berhutesfa (PhD), Professor of Public Policy in Addis Ababa University, most HRO make their report using secondary and tertiary information which are likely to be biased and contain information which could not be verified.
He also mentions that the number of such organizations which make their reports based on research are limited as they have shortcomings in utilizing primary information.
The Scholar further notes that some of the organizations’ reports on development and human right abuses are mostly dependent on social media and individuals who reside outside Ethiopia and have their own political agendas.
HRO reports must include the basic research questions of inquiry to make their statements reliable. He stresses that: “Caution should be taken on HRO reports as they could affect Ethiopia’s image in various ways.”
he further notes that their reports about human rights violation has gaps in this regard. “I do not think the government deliberately abuse its citizens’ rights which is entirely against the Constitution.”
He also recommends that universities, scholars and local HROs should collaborate with HROs to practice free and clear flow of information on human rights. “The government should also encourage the HRO to gather information using primary sources in the grassroots.”
Costantinos further stresses that the government should also leave no open room for fabrication and unverifiable information dissemination. “Nowadays, the government has become more vibrant in disseminating timely information which close the information gaps and leave no chance for meddling biased reports from outside.” Similarly, Assistant Professor at Mekelle University School of Law Gebremeskel Hailu shares Costantinos’s views taking some foreign reports about the GERD as baseless and unverifiable. “There were also other similar baseless reports and controversies during the construction of Gelgel Gibe III Hydroelectric Power few years back saying it would have impacts on the communities and downstream countries. They had predicted as the Dam would be ineffective. Ironically, the Dam is now Ethiopia’s second biggest hydroelectric power plant generating 500 MW electricity gird to the national grid.”
“Ethiopia has made various assessments and studies on the GERD that it would not have significant negative impacts on downstream countries.” He says adding the reports concerning the Dam is a mere empty allegations sponsored by some countries.”
Gebremeskel further stresses that universities should play their roles in providing journals and research studies that are based on facts to help HROs create clear information on human rights and other developmental reports.
HROs are international organizations with the role of impacting countries positively as platforms of feedback on governments’ actions.