The Casualty Recorders Network (CRN) was established in 2009. The network currently has over 50 members spread across the globe. CRN members are instrumental in casualty recording in a variety of contexts across the world, to acknowledge the dead and uphold their human dignity by ensuring they are recorded, identified and publicly acknowledged. To highlight the work of members of CRN, ECC will be conducting interviews with members from different contexts.
The views expressed in this interview are the CRN member’s own and do not necessarily reflect Every Casualty Count’s stance.
CRN Member – Amhara Association of North America
The Amhara Association of North America (AAA) is a US-based non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance the political and humanitarian interests of the Amhara people of Ethiopia. As part of this work, AAA investigates and documents human rights violations against the Amhara population, including recording casualties of armed conflict, violence and political repression in Ethiopia.
AAA seeks to inform U.S. policymakers, international organisations, journalists, researchers, and the wider public on key human rights issues pertaining to the Amhara population to pressure Ethiopian leaders to change laws, policies, and practices in Ethiopia so perpetrators are held accountable and victims receive justice.
AAA also collaborates with other Amhara organisations in the diaspora, supports independent Amhara organisations in Ethiopia, and provides humanitarian aid for Amhara communities affected by conflict and violence. AAA’s funding comes directly from members and supporters; the organisation is not affiliated with Ethiopian or American political or governmental entities.
The Standards for Casualty Recording recommends that all deaths from armed violence or armed conflict are recorded (Chapters 1 and 3), and that, if practitioners decide to only record the casualties of one party to the conflict, in line with their organisation’s purpose, they make the limitations to their data and their inclusion and exclusion criteria clear. Can you tell us a bit more about the methodology that you use, to allow people who read your report and learn more about your work to make an informed decision about how you assemble your data, why you focus on the Amhara in Ethiopia, how you reach your conclusions, and how your data can further be used?
In 1991, when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) came to power, TPLF divided the country along ethnic lines. This resulted in ethnicity becoming the primary political organising factor in Ethiopia, and Amharas were politically ostracised and marginalised.
AAA aims to record human rights violations against Amharas, identify perpetrators and to seek justice for the victims. While we primarily focus on documenting atrocities against Amhara, we also report the identities of non-Amhara victims when they are killed in an attack that targeted Amharas.
AAA has trained human rights investigators in Ethiopia who investigate, document, and report on human rights atrocities. These human rights investigators have built a network of sources throughout Ethiopia including human rights groups, journalists, and religious groups which allows us to collect critical information about victims and perpetrators.
AAA aims to tell the story of the victims, so they are not forgotten. Our reports are shared with the public, U.S. policymakers, human rights organisations, journalists, and international institutions to educate and bring awareness to the humanitarian situation faced by the Amhara people. AAA also provides policy recommendations to stakeholders to improve the state of human rights and democracy in Ethiopia.
Difficulties casualty recording within the context of AAA’s work
Casualty recording in this conflict is hindered by logistical, political, and media-related obstacles, making the documentation and recognition of casualties particularly difficult. Many factors make casualty recording difficult during an armed conflict in an already repressive environment.
Casualty documentation remains challenging due to the remote locations of Amhara populations, especially in Oromia. Amharas in these areas are scattered, making them vulnerable and difficult to reach. Poor mobile network coverage and their limited access to advanced technology further complicate communication. Before attacks happen, there is often a deliberate shutdown of mobile networks, to facilitate mass killings and hide the crimes. This prevents live reporting, forcing investigators to gather information post-event. Sources providing information are often arrested.
For the last year and a half, fighting has been underway in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region between Amhara Fano and forces allied to the Abiy Ahmed-led Prosperity Party regime which includes the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). Fighting between the Abiy regime and Fano has spanned the entire region which has prevented our investigators from travelling to locations of alleged human rights violations for security reasons.
AAA investigators cannot travel to these locations and must rely on established networks and remote technology to gather evidence. These concerns are compounded by deliberate actions by authorities to obstruct access which include complete shutdowns of mobile internet and landlines, military checkpoints, risk of violence and intimidation. Witnesses are often fearful to speak to AAA investigators and journalists out of fear of reprisal. This also includes health professionals and lawyers who have faced systemic attacks and persecution by the Abiy regime’s armed forces.
AAA investigators gather information on casualties through a combination of means. These include conducting in-person visits to sites of violent incidents, interviewing survivors and witnesses in IDP camps, and undertaking remote interviews by phone. AAA also gathers and verifies information from government and security forces sources, and occasionally satellite images. AAA’s public version reports are posted on its website.
Infrastructure for collecting information on violent events and casualties in Ethiopia
It is very challenging for human rights groups and journalists to collect information on violence and casualties. Ethiopia lacks the space and infrastructure to freely and safely conduct robust investigations of human rights violations. Journalists, rights groups, and opposition figures are killed, jailed, and harassed for investigating or discussing human rights violations committed by state actors and sometimes non-state actors. Thousands of civilians have been detained since early October 2024 alone. Ethiopia has poor telecommunication infrastructure and only about 20% of the population has access to the Internet. This makes collecting information on human rights violations also difficult.
The importance of casualty recording
Casualty recording is foundational to the protection of universal human rights, justice, and accountability. In the context of armed conflict, the severity and scale of violence can be overwhelming for affected communities. Documenting casualties ensures that events are not only recorded but that victims are humanised, ensuring that their stories are remembered and that the tragedies they endured are not forgotten. This process serves as an educational tool for future generations, helping society learn from the past to prevent similar atrocities.
Moreover, casualty recording ensures that the stories of victims are told, perpetrators are publicly exposed and shamed, and broader stakeholders—including governments, civil society, and international organisations—are made aware of the circumstances that enable such atrocities. By shedding light on these factors, casualty recording also highlights the steps that need to be taken to prevent future crimes and foster a more just and accountable world.
