Human rights in Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
According to the U.S. Department of State's human rights report for 2004 and similar sources, the Ethiopian government's human rights "remained poor; although there were improvements, serious problems remained." The report listed numerous cases where police and security forces are said to have harassed, illegally detained, tortured, and/or killed individuals, who were members of opposition groups or accused of being insurgents. Thousands of suspects remained in detention without charge, and lengthy pretrial detention continued to be a problem. Prison conditions were poor. The government often ignores citizens' privacy rights and laws regarding search warrants. Although fewer journalists have been arrested, detained, or punished in 2004 than in previous years, the government nevertheless continues to restrict freedom of the press
. The government limits freedom of assembly
, particularly for members of opposition groups, and security forces have used excessive force to break up demonstrations. Violence and discrimination against women continue to be problems. Female genital mutilation
is widespread, although efforts to curb the practice have had some effect. The economic and sexual exploitation of children continues, as does human trafficking
. Forced labor, particularly among children, is a persistent problem. Low-level government interference with labor union
s continues. Although the government generally respected the free exercise of religion, local authorities at times interfere with religious practice.
According to a report released by Human Rights Watch
(HRW) in June 2008, the Ethiopian army has committed widespread executions, torture
and rape
in Ogaden
, as part of a counterinsurgency campaign. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
responded with a big press release stating that they performed an investigation during August and September of that year, which "found no trace of serious human rights violation let alone war crimes or crimes against humanity" during their response to the Abole oil field raid
, but claimed the investigation found "a mass of evidence of further systematic abuses committed by the ONLF." However, the U.S. State Department's annual report on human rights notes that Lisan Yohannes, a "former ruling party insider", led the investigation, an appointment which "opens questions about the independence of the investigation."
On 6 January 2009, the Ethiopian parliament
passed the "Charities and Societies Proclamation (NGO law)", which "criminalizes most human rights work in the country" according to HRW, who added that "the law is a direct rebuke to governments that assist Ethiopia and that had expressed concerns about the law's restrictions on freedom of association and expression."
ranked Ethiopia as being "partly free", and ranked it "not free" in terms of Press Freedom.
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
. The government limits freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
, particularly for members of opposition groups, and security forces have used excessive force to break up demonstrations. Violence and discrimination against women continue to be problems. Female genital mutilation
Female genital cutting
Female genital mutilation , also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."FGM...
is widespread, although efforts to curb the practice have had some effect. The economic and sexual exploitation of children continues, as does human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
. Forced labor, particularly among children, is a persistent problem. Low-level government interference with labor union
Trade unions in Ethiopia
The trade unions of Ethiopia have a total membership of approximately 300,000. Over 203,000 are members of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions ....
s continues. Although the government generally respected the free exercise of religion, local authorities at times interfere with religious practice.
Incidents
It is claimed that in 2005 police massacred opposition protesters. Live gunfire from government forces was directed at protesters and bystanders.According to a report released by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
(HRW) in June 2008, the Ethiopian army has committed widespread executions, torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
in Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
, as part of a counterinsurgency campaign. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ethiopia....
responded with a big press release stating that they performed an investigation during August and September of that year, which "found no trace of serious human rights violation let alone war crimes or crimes against humanity" during their response to the Abole oil field raid
Abole oil field raid
The Abole oil field raid occurred in the early morning of April 24, 2007 when gunmen of the Ogaden National Liberation Front attacked a Chinese oil company's premises in the town of Abole, northwest of Degehabur, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia...
, but claimed the investigation found "a mass of evidence of further systematic abuses committed by the ONLF." However, the U.S. State Department's annual report on human rights notes that Lisan Yohannes, a "former ruling party insider", led the investigation, an appointment which "opens questions about the independence of the investigation."
On 6 January 2009, the Ethiopian parliament
Federal Parliamentary Assembly
The Parliament of Ethiopia consists of two chambers:*The House of Federation *The House of People's Representatives...
passed the "Charities and Societies Proclamation (NGO law)", which "criminalizes most human rights work in the country" according to HRW, who added that "the law is a direct rebuke to governments that assist Ethiopia and that had expressed concerns about the law's restrictions on freedom of association and expression."
Ranking
Freedom HouseFreedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
ranked Ethiopia as being "partly free", and ranked it "not free" in terms of Press Freedom.
See also
- LGBT rights in EthiopiaLGBT rights in EthiopiaLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Ethiopia do not exists; all homosexual activity is recognized by Ethiopian law as a sexual crime, and the promotion of homosexuality is overwhelmingly rejected by Ethiopian .....
- Ethiopian Human Rights Council
- Woineshet ZebeneWoineshet ZebeneWoineshet Zebene Negash, also known as Woineshet Zebene, is a rape victim whose case was responsible for a change in Ethiopian law. She was the first Ethiopian ever legally to challenge a bridal abduction...
External links
- Censorship in Ethiopia - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Amnesty International's 2011 Annual Report on Ethiopia