Browsing by Author "Dawit, Benyam (PhD)"
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Item Adopting a Human Rights-based Approach to Counteract Trafficking -in-Women: The Case of Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2011-11) Jibriel, Bahar; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)Trafficking in persons which is akin to contemporwy slavelY is highly prevalent across the world. It is affecting thousands o.{persons in all corners of the globe. While men and boys can be exposed to trafficking, the women and girls constitutes a significant majority ol victims of trafficking. Ethiopia is among source countries of many women and girls exposed to trafficking. Each year thousands of Ethiopian women and girls are trafficked across international border to mainly Middle East countries for labor and sexual exploitation purposes. Ethiopian women are subjected to multiple human rights abuses in destination coun tries. Thus, this thesis seeks to examine the sufjiciency and adequacy ol anti/rafficking measures adopted in Ethiopia to counteract trafficking in women. The study"identifies that th ere are two dominant approaches to countera ct trajJicking in persons including women trafficking. These ar e: criminal justice approach and human rights based approach antitrafficking response. It argues that criminal justice approach which views trqUicking as crime and immigration issues resolvable by prosecution of traffickers alone is lOSing currency. It fails mainly to address the root causes irafficking in persons in addition to lack o.l protection to VaT As a result, human righ ts based approach that considers trafficking in women as human rights issues deeming a human rights oriented interventions is gaining ground in antitrafficking discourses. The study, jilrther, argues that A Human Rights Ba sed Approach AntitralJicking Re sponse addresses not only Ihe process and consequences aftrafficking but also it seeks to dismantle Ihe structural root causes such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment and discrimination against women that feed trafficking in women. Accordingly, a human ri ghts based approach antitrafficking en compasses prosecution of trafficking cases, protection of VoT and prevention of Ira.lJicking in holistic manner. Thus, the purpose o.lthis thesis is to assess whether antitralJicking adopted in Ethiopia are in line with human rights based approach standards. The th esis reveals that while there are some positive initiatives and efforts, antiirafficking measures adopted in Ethiopia .!cdl short oj" Human Rights Based Approach antitrqlJicking standards. The lack ()llegislative, policy and instilutional ji"({/l1eworks coupled with deficienCies in prosecution, protection and prevention strategies prove this asserlion. Therej"ore , it is a high time to adopt A Human Rights Based Approach antilra/ficking re!>panse in the countlyto see the effective and meaningfid eradica tion o.lthe trafficking in women. Key terms: trqfjicking in persons, women, criminal justice approach, human rights, a human rights based approach, prosecution, protection, prevention, victims of traffic kingItem Comparative Analyses of the Human Right to Adequate Housing: International and Regional Perspectives(Addis Ababa University, 2013-03) Mosissa, Berhanu; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The human right to Adequate Housing is an evolving and at the same time controversial issue in global and regional human rights systems. Tllis right was recognized as one of economic, social and cultural rights which is the component of the right to an adequate standard of living under international human rights law. Despite the central place of this right within the global legal system, scholarly researches reveal that, over a billion people are not adequately housed; millions live in health threatetling conditions or in other conditions which do not uphold their human rights and their human dignity at different parts of the globe. These facts are attributable to the non-compliance of States with internationally set standards of adequate housing and the disparities that exist among regional human rights system in giving emphasis on the key aspects o of the human right to adequate housing. The sum totality of these regional disparities led to disparities in definition, interpretation, realization and a lack of adequate housing for the majority of urban population at different corners of the world. This paper will focus on assessing the key aspects of the human right to adequate housing under universal human rights system in comparison with major regional human rights systems. For the purpose of this thesis the key aspects of the human right to adequate housing include: normative contents; duties of States; the constituents of violations; remedies upon the materialization of violations; and monitoring the implementation of the housing rights. The paper argues that there o are great disparities in formulating the key aspects of the human right to adequate housing. The paper concludes that the African human rights system does not properly set the aspects of the human right to adequate housing even though it adopted the three in one approach, when compared to both international human rights law and the two major regional human rights system which do not adopt the same approach. The paper also concludes such defective formulation of the key aspects is not unique to African and that the three human rights systemsthe Universal; the Inter-American; and the European share the same. The paper also argues the o act of reading housing rights into general property right is not desirable. Key Words: key aspects of human rights, adequate housing, housing rights, human rights, adequate standard of living, human rights law, human rights system.Item The Human Rights of Detained Persons in Ethiopia Case Study in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2012-12) Gulilat, Addisu; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The ICCPR under article 10 expressly provides that detained persons should be treated with respect to their dignity. Moreover, the respective supervisory organs of the international and regional human rights instruments make it clear through their jurisprudence that deplorable detention conditions constitute violation of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This approach broadens the horizon of protection of human rights abuses in detention places as torture with all its forms is prohibited in many of human rights instruments such as, UDHR, ICCPR, ACHPR, ECHR and ACHR. For this end, a series of minimum standards for treatment of detained persons are adopted both internationally and regional which are serving as thresholds to find violation of human dignity. Likewise, the Ethiopian legal system has equivalent set of legislations for the treatment of detained persons. The 1995 constitution guarantees that detained persons shall be treated with due respect to their dignity. Federal Prisons Commission Establishment Proclamation, 365/2003 points out the mandate, structure and objective of prisons where it expressly provides that prisons have to endeavor to ensure the rehabilitation of detained persons. More importantly the minimum standards for treating detained persons is promulgated by Federal Detainees Treatment Regulation No 138/2007 which provides for Accommodation, Personal hygiene, Clothing and bedding, Food, Medical services, complaints mechanisms and avenue, Inspection, sport and exercise, education and training, separation of accommodation and work conditions. With respect to the practice, however, the study found that treatment of detained persons in Ethiopia failed short of compliance to minimum expectations as it found challenges such as high levels of overcrowding, disease, malnutrition, unhygienic condition, lack of separate treatment based on sex, age, illness and nature of criminal; lack of organized and continuing education and training and absence of viable compliant hearing mechanism. The study, finally, makes recommendations that could rectify the existing challenges.Item The Human Rights of Detained Persons in Ethiopia Case Study in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2012-12) Gulilat, Addlsu; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)Th e ICC PR und er articl e 10 ex pr ess ly prov id es that deta in ed per so ns sho uld be treated wit h re spect to th eir dign ity. Mo reove r, th e res pec ti ve s up erviso ry orga ns o f th e internationa l and re giona l hum an right s in strument s make it clea r thr ough thei r juri s prudence that de plorable detention condition s con stitute violati on of tOl1ure , cruel , inhuman or deg rading treat ment or puni shment. Thi s appro ac h broaden s the horizon of protection o f hum an right s abu ses in detention places as t0l1ure with all its form s is prohibited in many of human rights in struments such as, UDHR, ICCPR, AC HPR , EC ]-IR a nd ACHR. For this end , a ser ies of minimum standards for trea tment of detai ned pe rso ns are adopted both internat io nall y and re gional whic h are serv ing as thresho lds to find v iola tion of human d ign ity. Likewi se, the Et hi op ian lega l system ha s eq ui va le nt se t of legis lat ions for the tre atment of detain ed pe rso ns. The 199 5 co nstitution gua rantees th at deta in ed persons shall be treated with due re s pect to th eir d ignity. Fed era l Pri son s Co mmi ss io n Establi shment Proclamation, 365/2003 point s out th e mandate, structure and objecti ve of pr iso ns where it ex pr ess ly prov ides that pr iso ns have to end eavor to ensure the reh ab ili tation of detained pe rson s. Mo re important ly the minimum sta ndard s for treating de tain ed perso ns is promul ga ted by Fede ra l Deta in ees Trea tment Regu latio n No 138/2 007 whi c h pro vide s for Accommoda tion, Pe rso nal hyg iene , Clot hin g a nd beddin g, Food , Med ical se rvice s, comp la ints mec hani sms and a ve nu e, In s pect ion, sport and ex e rcise, educat ion and training , sepa ration of accommodation and work cond itions. With re s pect to the pract ice, however, the study found that tr ea tm ent of detai ned persons in Ethiopia failed short of co mpli anc e to minimum expectati ons as it found cha ll en ges such as hi gh leve ls of overcrowd in g, di se ase, malnutriti o n, unh yg ienic co ndition , lack of se par ate treatment ba se d o n sex, age, illness and nat ure of cr im ina l; lack of orga ni ze d a nd continu in g education and train in g a nd absence of viab le compliant hea rin g mec hani s m. The st ud y, fina ll y, makes reco mm endat ion s that co uld rectify th e ex istin g cha ll enges .Item The Impact of Climate Change on the Rights of the Child: Challenge for Realizing the Rights of the Child under the Convention on the Rights of the Child(Addis Ababa University, 2012-12) Mohammed, Marishet; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)Because of the increasing adverse impacts of climate change on the environment and consequent negative effects on the enjoyment of virtually the whole range of human rights protected under different national, regional and international legal instruments. There is an increasing empirical evidence proving that climate change is not only about change in temperature, precipitation level, melting of the ice or rise in the sea level, but also up hold the enjoyment of human rights. But, as the level of human impact much depends on the adaption and resilience capacity of States, there is usually variation even among different groups in a certain State or internationally, owing to vulnerability factors such as, gender, age, dependence and others. Among others, due to their particularly sensitive physiological, metabolic and cognitive immaturity and reliance on adults, children are more prone to the adverse effects of climate change than adults. In spite of these, the international effort to put right the problem through a binding comprehensive accord, though indispensible, is too sluggish, often entangled and incomprehensive in terms of addressing human rights dimensions. It is, therefore, indispensible to explore and utilize human rights frameworks as a complementary approach. Though the right to clean and healthy environment is not explicitly recognized under major international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the already existing human rights normative standards can be reinterpreted to encompass the enjoyment of an environment of a particular quality so as to afford the full protection the rights protection aspire. This, human rights based approach, is a relatively sustained approach and widely pursued in the human right-climate change justificatory arguments. On the basis of this integrative approach, this study inquires into the direct and indirect adverse impacts of climate change on the rights of the child as set forth under the Convention on the Rights of the Child; focusing on the right to life, survival and development, the right to health, the right to adequate standard of living. It then moves on to explore the normative basis upon which States obligation to act to prevent damages caused by climate change hinges upon, norms applicable to establish States’ responsibility and, finally, the role the Committee on the Rights of the Child can play in monitoring and enforcing States obligations vis-à-vis the impact of climate change on the rights of the child – based on its mandates as enunciated under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Item The 'Right to Life' of the Unborn Child and the Practice of Abortion for Rape and Incest Victims in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Mulugeta, Seyum; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)Despite recent efforts by some scholars, there is one group of children who remain undertheorized and under-studied, and that is the unborn child. Most importantly, there is very lim ited discussion about whether protection for the life of the unborn child begins at birth, some time before or at conception. The situation in Ethiopia is no exception in this regard . Therefore, this study looks at the extent in which protection for the life of the unborn child is provided under international human rig hts law. It also examines the protections available for the life of the unborn child under Ethiopia 's law. In principle abortion is a crime under Ethiopjan law. [t is only based on the exceptionally stipulated grounds of the law that legal abortion can be procured . One such exception of the law is pregnancy because of the criminal act of rape and incest To procure legal abortion on the basis of this particular ground, the mere statement by the women that she is a victim of rape or incest is adequate. [n practice, many women in Addis Ababa resort to legal abortion by mentioning th is except ion of the law simply to do away with unwanted pregnancies Thus, this research aims at examining and crit icall y anal yzing the abuse of abortion laws by many women's in Addis Ababa. Hence, the protections available for the life of the unborn child and its enfo rcements under the FDRE Constitution and ordinary legislations of the country wi ll be analyzed from the practice of legal abortion for rape and incest victims in Addis Ababa. Accordingly, the writer argues that both international human rights law and Ethiopian law provide some level of protection for the life of the unborn chi ld . There is also a duty on part of the government of Ethiopia to enforce such protections avai lab le for the life of the unborn child . But, the abuse of the law by several womens in Addis Ababa is violating the protections guaranteed for the life of the unborn child in Ethiopia. Therefore, the concerned authorities in Ethiopia have to take measures that will ensure compliance of the practice of abortion with the law and provide better protection for the li fe of the unborn chi ld in Ethiopia. Key Words: Ri ght to life; unborn child ; legal abortion; rape and incest victims; some level of protectionItem The Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities to Access Mental Health Care and their Human Rights Conditions in Psychiatric Facilities in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Debebe, Aytenew; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The standardization and undertakings for recognition and respect of human rights dates back to 1948 with the adoption of the UDHR. The understanding towards the universality of human rights is reached relatively later at the third World Human Rights Conference in Vienna in 1993. Despite this, until recently, little attention has been afforded to addressing the serious human rights violations suffered by PWDs. In response to the long reigned neglect and the advocacy works by different caucus of the disabilities movement, in 2006, a separate Convention was agreed at the UN level, the CRPD, which culminated the efforts of many stakeholders to bring about a new dawn for PWDs. PWMDs are among this group of people who are vulnerable groups and have been victims of human rights violations based on their disabilities. The grossly inadequate budget allocated to mental health compared to the burden it caused on the global burden of disease and disability evidences how these group of people are forgotten globally and at a national level. This has far reaching implications on their human rights. The institutions extending care for PWMDs have been places of perpetration of various human rights violations. In the above respect, Ethiopia is not a different country. With 15-17% of the total burden of diseases is caused by mental illness, it is seriously a concern to allocate an insignificant budget to the field. This is exacerbated due to the lack of neither any mental health law nor a policy for the protection of the rights of PWMDs, either any body to safeguard their conditions in psychiatric facilities. These people are thus suffering from various forms of human rights violations behind closed doors in addition to the lack of access to mental health services. This study is therefore an effort to show the right of PWMDs to access mental health services and to show the human rights implications of the situation, in Ethiopia on the rights of PWMDs. Moreover, the human rights conditions at the psychiatric settings are also addressed in this study.Key words: persons with mental disabilities, human rights and mental health, access to mental health and psychiatric care, human rights conditions in psychiatric facilities in EthiopiaItem The Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities to Access Mental Health Care and their Human Rights Conditions in Psychiatric Facilities in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Debebe, Aytenew; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)Th e standardi zati o n and und ertakin gs for reco gnit io n and respec t of hum a n ri ght s dates back to 1948 with th e ad o ption of th e UDHR. The und erstanding towards the universa lity of human ri ghts is reach ed relatively later at the third World Human Ri ghts Co nferen ce in Vienna in 1993. Des pit e thi s, until recently, littl e attenti on has been afford ed to address in g the seri o us human ri ghts vi o lati ons s uffered by PWDs. In res ponse to the lo ng reigned neglect and th e advo cacy work s by differe nt caucus of th e di sabiliti es movemen t, in 2 006, a se pa rat e Co nve nti on was agreed at the UN leve l, the CRPD, whi ch culmin ated th e effort s of many stakeh o ld e rs to brin g about a new daw n for PWD s . PWMD s are among thi s gro up o f peopl e who are vuln erable gro ups and ha ve been victim s of human ri ghts violati o ns base d o n th e ir di sabiliti es. T he gross ly in adequ ate bud get all ocated to me nta l hea lth compared to th e burde n it cau sed on the g lobal burde n of di se ase and di sability ev idences how th ese gro up of peo p le are forgotten glo ball y and at a na ti onal leve l. T hi s has fa r reac hin g impli catio ns on the ir human ri ght s . The in stitutio n s exte ndin g care for PW MD s have been places of perp et ratio n of various human r ights vio lations. In th e ab ove re spect, Ethi o pia is no t a di fferent co untry. With 15-1 7% of th e tot al burde n of di seases is cau sed by menta l illness, it is seri o usly a concern to a ll ocat e an in s ignifi can t bud ge t to th e fi e ld. Thi s is exace rbated du e to th e lac k of neithe r an y menta l heal t h law nor a po licy for th e protection of the rights of PWMDs, eithe r an y body to safeguard their co ndi tions in psyc hi at ri c fac iliti es . The se people are thus suffering from vari ous form s of hum a n ri ghts vio lati ons be hin d cl osed do ors in addition to the lack of access to ment al health services. T hi s stud y is therefo re an effort to show th e ri ght of PWMDs to ac cess mental hea lth serv ice s and to show the hum an ri g ht s implicati o ns of the s itu ati on, in Ethi opia o n the ri ght s of PWM Ds. More over, th e human ri ght s co nditi on s at th e psychi atric settings are also addressed in thi s stud y. Key wo rd s: Ethi opia, human ri ght s, me nta l di sabil iti es, menta l health, psychiat ric fac ilitiesItem The United Nations' Responsibility to Protect Civilians from Massive Human Rights Violations in Light of the Intervention in the Libyan Crisis in 2011(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Beyan, Nuruye; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The international community was criticized when it decided to int ervene, as in Somalia, Bosnia and Ko sovo, and when it did not interven e as in Rwanda. It wa s aga in st thi s background th at Kofi Annan argued, in September 1999 , in the defense of the individual soverei gnty over state sove reignty. He asked, ' if humanitari an inter vention i s an una cceptab le attac k on sovereignty, how can we respond to cases as Rwanda or Srebrenica?' In this sense, with th e recovery of Francis Deng's 1996 "sovereignty as re spons ibility" concept, it wou ld be po ss ible to abrogate the ca tego rical imp erative of traditional sovereignty; allowing the international community to intervene when the state fai ls in it s responsibility to protect it s people against genocide, ethnic clea ns in g, crimes of war and again st humanity. The study looks at the creation, development and eventual adoption of the ' responsibility to protect' (R2P) norm, from an idea promulgated in the 1990s to the development of the norm, and to the eventual adoption of a heavil y restricted yet poignant principle at the 2005 World Summit. There is considerable debate over the statu s and scope of the Re sp on sibility to Protect. On balance, mo st observe rs a nd states believe that it rema ins a political cOlmni tment and has not yet ac quired legal force . The purpose of this stu dy is to criticall y examin e the UN's responsibility to protect civilians in light of the intervention in th e 20 II Libyan crisi s. The re sponsibility to protect has been central in the d iscuss ion of how to dea l with th e Arab sp ring re vo lts that gave rise to c ivil war in Libya. In Libya, with the help of an UN auth orized NATO intervention, th e Gaddafi authoritarian regim e ended and the fo nner rebel forces are no w leading the transitional pro cess. Taking in to account the events in Libya, many ha ve que stioned whether th e concept ofR2P was used not only to protect civi li ans, but a lso to fulfill a des ire, from the beginning of the mis sion, for regime change. However, th e study a rgu ed th at it was very difficult to enforce the very intents and objectives of Re so lution 1973, because it was obvio us enough that Gad dafi was prepared to con tinue to slaugh ter his people in a civil war to retain power. Thu s, even if some argue d that the NATO interven tion in Libya acted beyond Resolution 1973, neverthele ss, the stud y s trongly argued that the intervening forces have indeed stopped Gaddafi from marching on Benghazi and saved thousands of li ves. Keywords: Lib ya, UN Reso lu tion, C ivilians, th e Re spon sibility to Protect.Item The United Nations' Responsibility to Protect Civilians From Massive Human Rights Violations in Light of the Intervention in the Libyan Crisis in 2011(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Beyan, Nuruye; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The international community was criticized when it decided to intervene, as in Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and when it did not intervene as in Rwanda. It was against this background that Kofi Annan argued, in September 1999, in the defense of the individual sovereignty over state sovereignty. He asked, 'if humanitarian intervention is an unacceptable attack on sovereignty, how can we respond to cases as Rwanda or Srebrenica?' In this sense, with the recovery of Francis Deng's 1996 "sovereignty as responsibility" concept, it would be possible to abrogate the categorical imperative of traditional sovereignty; allowing the international community to intervene when the state fails in its responsibility to protect its people against genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes of war and against humanity. The study looks at the creation, development and eventual adoption of the 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) nonn, from an idea promulgated in the 1990s to the development of the norm, and to the eventual adoption of a heavily restricted yet poignant principle at the 2005 World Summit. There is considerable debate over the status and scope of the Responsibility to Protect. On balance, most observers and states believe that it remains a political commitment and has not yet acquired legal force. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the UN's responsibility to protect civilians in light of the intervention in the 20 II Libyan crisis. The responsibility to protect has been central in the discussion of how to deal with the Arab spring revolts that gave rise to civil war in Libya. In Libya, with the help of an UN authorized NATO intervention, the Gaddafi authoritarian regime ended and the former rebel fo rces are now leading the transitional process. Taking in to account the events in Libya, many have questioned whether the concept ofR2P was used not only to protect civilians, but also to fulfill a desire, from the beginning of the mission, for regime change. However, the study argued that it was very difficult to enforce the very intents and objectives of Resolution 1973, because it was obvious enough that Gaddafi was prepared to continue to slaughter his people in a civil war to retain power. Thus, even if some argued that the NATO intervention in Libya acted beyond Resolution 1973, nevertheless, the study strongly argued that the intervening forces have indeed stopped Gaddafi from marching on Benghazi and saved thousands of lives. Keywords: Libya, UN Resolution, Civilians, the Responsibility to Protect.Item The United Nations’ Responsibility to Protect Civilians from Massive Human Rights Violations in Light of the Intervention in the Libyan Crisis in 2011(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Beyan, Nuruye; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The international community was criticized when it decided to intervene, as in Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and when it did not intervene as in Rwanda. It was against this background that Kofi Annan argued, in September 1999, in the defense of the individual sovereignty over state sovereignty. He asked, ‘if humanitarian intervention is an unacceptable attack on sovereignty, how can we respond to cases as Rwanda or Srebrenica?’ In this sense, with the recovery of Francis Deng’s 1996 “sovereignty as responsibility” concept, it would be possible to abrogate the categorical imperative of traditional sovereignty, allowing the international community to intervene when the state fails in its responsibility to protect its people against genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes of war and against humanity. The study looks at the creation, development and eventual adoption of the ‘responsibility to protect’ (R2P) norm, from an idea promulgated in the 1990s to the development of the norm, and to the eventual adoption of a heavily restricted yet poignant principle at the 2005 World Summit. There is considerable debate over the status and scope of the Responsibility to Protect. On balance, most observers and states believe that it remains a political commitment and has not yet acquired legal force. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the UN’s responsibility to protect civilians in light of the intervention in the 2011 Libyan crisis. The responsibility to protect has been central in the discussion of how to deal with the Arab spring revolts that gave rise to civil war in Libya. In Libya, with the help of an UN authorized NATO intervention, the Gaddafi authoritarian regime ended and the former rebel forces are now leading the transitional process. Taking in to account the events in Libya, many have questioned whether the concept of R2P was used not only to protect civilians, but also to fulfill a desire, from the beginning of the mission, for regime change. However, the study argued that it was very difficult to enforce the very intents and objectives of Resolution 1973, because it was obvious enough that Gaddafi was prepared to continue to slaughter his people in a civil war to retain power. Thus, even if some argued that the NATO intervention in Libya acted beyond Resolution 1973, nevertheless, the study strongly argued that the intervening forces have indeed stopped Gaddafi from marching on Benghazi and saved thousands of lives. Keywords: Libya, UN Resolution, Civilians, the Responsibility to ProtectItem The World Bank and its Development Operations in Africa: A Critical Evaluation of its Human Right Accountability Mechanisms(Addis Ababa University, 2013-01) Tatek, Megnot; Dawit, Benyam (PhD)The World Bank through its policies and development projects has caused a substantial effect on socio-economic rights especially in Africa. The study critically examines the impact of the World Bank’s policies and developmental projects on socio-economic rights in Africa. In this scrutiny, the writer argues that the Bank’s Structural Adjustment Programs and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers violate a number of socio-economical rights of the local population in Africa. The study also investigates the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline, the UG-Bujagali Private Hydropower Development Project in Uganda and the Niger Delta Contractor Revolving Credit Facility in Nigeria private development projects to show how private projects financed by the Bank have devastating effect on certain important socio-economic rights in Africa. All these in turn make the issue of human rights accountability very fundamental. The study thus critically asses the efficiency of the existing institutional human rights accountability mechanisms in addressing human rights issues including self-regulatory, the quasi-independent IBRD/IDA Inspection Panel, IFC/MIGA Compliance Advisory Office (CAO), and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) and argues that the voluntary mechanisms adopted by the World Bank are not adequate to close up the issue of human rights accountability. Therefore, the study evaluates the non-institutional human rights accountability mechanisms drawing upon the sources of international law, a serious and systematic attempts are made to identify and classify the nature and content of human rights obligations applicable to the World Bank and concludes that it is possible to establish a human rights obligation of the WB in support of international human rights accountability.Key Words: World Bank, Human Rights, Development, Structural Adjustment Programs, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Human Rights Accountability, Inspection Panel, CAO and the IEG.