The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission visits crime suspects held in the Custody of the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector.

                        Press Release (English Version)        (Amharic Version)

National Consultative Meeting

Recommends Further Enrichment of the Ethiopian Draft NHRAP

                                                                                     May, 2012

The consultative meeting of the National Coordinating Committee for the Preparation of the Ethiopian National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) has recommended, among other things, the inclusion into the draft Action Plan of increasing foodstuff budget of people in detention centers, having clear procedures with regard to pardon, amnesty, probation and limit of the period of trial. Also recommended are building the capacity of criminal justice administrative bodies, the translation of some major codes that are found in Amharic and English version into other regional working languages in order to make their application easier.

In a bid to further protect the rights of women and children, the meeting has also proposed in its recommendations the opening in other regions of rehabilitation and legal aid centers of the tutuzela model established at the Ghandi Hospital, an aggressive education campaign on the rights of vulnerable groups of society and the provision; at all level of learning institutions; of quality education. Read More...

EHRC signs MoU with Arba Minch University to further expand FLAS

                                                                           April 9, 2012

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arba Minch University 0n 5^th of April, 2012 here at the Commission’s Head office in Addis Ababa to further expand free legal aid services. The MoU was signed by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission Chief Commissioner, Ambassador Teruneh Zenna and President of the Arba Minch University, Dr. Yosef Biru.

                     Ambassador Teruneh (L) and Dr. Yosef signing the MoU

According to the agreement, the university is to be provided, among others; with financial and technical support by the Commission so as to enable the former to establish free legal aid centers in its environs and deliver free legal aid services to vulnerable groups including women, people with disabilities, and the poor.

On the occasion, the President of Arba Minch University; Dr. Yosef Biru; noting the limited financial capacity of his University, said that the Law school of the Arba Minch University is enthusiastic to work toward ensuring the communities’ rights of access to justice which constitute the basic human rights component. He added, the agreement will enable the University to address its financial problems and work relentlessly to provide free legal aid services in the area.

                                       On the occasion

Ambassador Teruneh, on his part said, his Commission is desirous of further expanding and building up free legal aid centers to all parts of the country and this one agreement with Arba Minch University will make contribution to cutting back numerous harmful traditional practices which compared to other parts is rampant and responsible for gross human rights violation in the area.  

This agreement is said to bring the number of free legal aid centers being established in collaboration with 17 Universities and various CSOS in various regions of the country since the mid of 2010 to 117.