Ethiopian Review

BANJUL, Gambia- The Ethiopian delegation to the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), that recently wrapped up in the Gambia , had assured the Commission of respect for human rights in Ethiopia .

In its statement at the Session, the Ethiopia delegation updated the human rights gathering of what it said was the current developments regarding human rights situation in Ethiopia.

According the delegation’s statement, the government of Ethiopia “is determined to continue enhancing the capacity of institutions dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country”.

The delegation further said the government fully recognizes that there is a lot to be done to further entrench the system of human rights in Ethiopia.

In the delegation’s own words, the Ethiopian government is committed to engage in dialogue and work with all national and international actors with genuine interest and the relevant mandates in these areas.

The ACHPR was also informed by the delegation that women’s rights are constitutionally guaranteed rights in Ethiopia and, that the government believes its implementation is vital for the continued development and prosperity of the country as well as for its viability as a nation.

“As such, we will welcome the recommendations made and we will work towards implementing them. We will also like to take this opportunity to once again confirm her Excellency our commitment to ratify the protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa.

“The Government is also considering the requests made for other promotional visits and will respond to the Secretariat of the Commission, accordingly,” Addis Ababa assured Chairperson Mrs. Justice Sanji Monageng and her Commission.

Although the Ethiopia has submitted its report under the African Charter, the delegation stressed in its statement that, the government requested postponement of the consideration of the report during that Banjul Session of the Commission due to conflicting national engagements.

The engagements, it hinted the ACHPR, would not allow Ethiopia to present the initial and combined report at appropriate level and with the requisite preparation.

The delegation expressed the Ethiopian government’s continued appreciation and support for the Commission in the implementation of its mandate that would “surely” help make vital contribution for the betterment of the protection and promotion of human rights to the people of Africa.

According to the delegation, it was in 2007 that the first National Conference was convened in Ethiopia, which reflected on the implementation of the reporting obligations under international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the country that identified the constraints Ethiopia faces meeting its treaty obligations of reporting.

The Conference, as recalled, also adopted a number of recommendations aimed at promoting reporting by Ethiopia, which translated into a concrete work plan.

Consequently, a national ad-hoc inter-ministerial committee, a steering committee and a drafting committee were established. It further recalled the second National Conference in April 2009, convened to review and discuss the progress the country was making since the first national conference regarding its reporting obligations under International and Regional Human Rights Instruments and the way forward.

The Conference, the statement added, has drawn such large and active participation from all Federal government institutions, from regional Governments, civil society groups, and from members of the international community in Addis Ababa who made tangible contribution in the discussions in the different working groups and during the plenary.

Some of the significant achievements of the project, as disclosed by the Ethiopian government delegation, include the submission of the report on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the report on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the report on the common core document.

“The overall assessment of the progress was that the Project has attained targets well beyond its target as it also resulted in the drafting of the Universal Periodic Review Report the country to be submitted to the Human Rights Council,” the statement read.

It further noted that this significant interest and active engagement in the human rights reporting by Ethiopia to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the various treaty bodies of the United Nations and the Universal Periodic Report does not merely result in a compliance with their international reporting obligations, but the process they have carried out to produce the report has enhanced their understanding of the overall human rights situation in Ethiopia and the requisite measures that are required to implement these.

The reporting process, Addis Ababa believes, also helped achievements and identify gaps based on the information contained in the reports.

The second National Conference, it was recalled, also coincided with the promotional visit of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, Commissioner Mayta Saiga who graced us her presence at the closing ceremony of the National Conference.

During her promotional visit, the Special Rapporteur was said to have met and held discussions with relevant stakeholders including the President of the FDRE, the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representative, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Women Parliamentarians and other Government officials and institutions, members of Civil Society Organizations, religious bodies, law enforcement agencies that shared information on the rights of women in the country.

(SSI)