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THE CONSTITUTION
Had three written constitutions (in 1931, 1955 and 1987)
The current FDRE constitution entered in to force on 21 August 1995.
Established ethnic based federal state
more than 1/3 of its content is on fundamental human and people’s rights.
incorporates several human rights, traditional civil and political rights to socio-economic and group or solidarity rights
embodies several civil and political rights ( life, security of the person, liberty, ...)
Recognizes freedom of expression, association and assembly
OTHER LAWS
Anti-Terrorism proclamation (2009) Conflicts with the constitution’s provisions Restricts freedom of expression Violets basic human rights Vague restrictions Manly it allow the authorities to criminalize the
exercise of freedom of expression. Frequently used to silence journalists, activists
and opposition politicians
OTHER LAWS...
Charities and Societies proclamation (2009) Restricts freedom of association Limits civic societies activities It prohibits “foreign” NGO’s from engaging in
human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, disability rights, etc..
foreign” NGO includes local NGOs that receive more than 10% of their funding from foreign sources.
Frequently used to silence vibrant civic society organizations
OTHER LAWS
Mass Media and Information Freedom proclamation (2008)
The ceiling for compensation in cases of civil defamation increases from what used to be 1000 birr in the repealed press law to 100,000 birr (6080 US$) now.
Intimidates publishers and owners Allows for the public prosecutor to issue an order to
impound a periodical or a book
PRACTICE
The 2005 election is a game changing event in Ethiopia.
Pre 2005 election Wider public participation Civic societies had active engagement on the
democratization process in the country’s history Media played significant role There was active conversation between competing
parties, civic societies and the media in an integrated forum
PRACTICE
On 2005 election The opposition CUD almost won the ruling
EPRDF in the 2005 election Election results converted in to the ruling party’s
favor Almost 200 persons who were demonstrating on
the streets were killed Opposition political party leaders, journalists,
activists and civic society leaders were arrested
PRACTICE
Post 2005 election New laws adopted that contradicts to the country’s
constriction (CSO law, Anti-terrorism law etc..) Many civic societies’ organizations were affected by
the laws (Ethiopian Human Rights Council, The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association...)
Private press is highly affected by the anti-terrorism law
SOME EXAMPLES
Attack on civic societies
Gov’t freezes the Ethiopian Human Rights Council’s money, about Birr 6 million
It was also forced to down size its human resource by 80%
The Vibrant Ethiopian Women lawyers Association is grappling to survive due to budget cut.
More than 85% of Civic societies forced to shifted their agenda from human and civic rights to charities due to the cso law
SOME EXAMPLES..
Attack on press
December 2009, Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were convicted
2011, Hellman-Hammett Award winner Woubshet Taye was arrested.
2011, Reeyot Alemu, a journalist for Feteh, was arrested
2012 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award recipient Eskinder Nega was arrested
2014 six members of the Zone 9 blogging collective were arrested under terrorism charges
2014 three publishers were charged under terrorism charges
2014 journalist Temesgen desalegne was sentenced three years of imprisonment on defamation cases.
REPORTS
Human rights watch reported in 2015 : Hopes that Ethiopia’s government would ease its crackdown on dissent ahead of the May 2015 elections were dashed in 2014.
Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) rates Ethiopia one of the most censored country in the world.
The US State Department on Human Rights’ report severely criticizes Ethiopia in relation to the handling and practice of basic human rights
Amnesty International reported Ethiopia jailed large numbers of legally registered opposition political parties, journalists, bloggers and protesters.
IMPACT
Practically, the country has become a police state and is now being governed under one party system (multi party system diminishes)
In the 2010 election the ruling EPRDF won 99.6% of the 547 parliamentary sets
In the 2015 election the ruling EPRDF won 100% of all the 547 parliamentary seats
Direct and indirect political participation is undermined
No Accountability and Transparency
High level of grand and political corruption
WAY FORWARD
Networking with local, regional and international civic societies’ organizations and the media is important for better capacity to challenge the government in Ethiopia for freedom of expression and association.
Building integrated approach with regional and international organizations can help boost cso’s and the barely existed media’s confidence and capacity in Ethiopia.