Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, human rights defenders carry out their work despite threats, acts of intimidation, restrictions on the freedom of expression, association and assembly, judicial harassment, arbitrary arrests, violent beatings, ill-treatment, torture and killings.

The UN SRSG states in her report on the situation of human rights defenders that “There is a large range of individuals and organizations that work for the promotion and protection of human rights defenders in Ethiopia. Each of them has its own methodology (raising awareness, education, advocacy, monitoring, reporting, legal assistance) and focus on general or specific issues, such as women’s rights, the rule of law or democracy-related rights”. Human rights NGOs have faced particular obstacles in registering, as a ministerial notice was introduced by the Minister of Justice in September 2006, the terms of which can be amended without governmental or constitutional approval. Under the terms of the notice, in order to be granted a licence, NGOs have to present their proposals to a Committee of eight governmental representatives and enter into an agreement with the relevant government agencies. There are also reports that the work of independent human rights NGOs has been undermined by the establishment of pro-governmental NGOs. Human rights defenders and the organisations they work for, are also stigmatised and affected by antiterrorist legislation which is used to undermine them and their work.

Following parliamentary elections held in May 2005, many human rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists and opposition politicians were persecuted and incarcerated en masse, following public demonstrations in June 2005 and later in November of the same year, during which the police allegedly shot more than 40 demonstrators.