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Item The Law and the Practice that Govern Internally Displaced Persons: A Case Study at Debre Birhan IDPs Camp.(Addis Ababa Unversity, 2023-11) Haimanot Debebe; Tsehai WadaIn Ethiopia, displacement is not a new phenomenon; this has been happening for centuries due to both natural and man-made causes. Major disasters have occurred in Ethiopia due to a number of factors; particularly conflict-related displacement is an important incident in the country's current situation. According to a number of studies, racial bias in competition for scarce resources such as land and water, as well as inadequate social services and poor governance, are reasons for the spread of conflict-related displacement. Millions of people were displaced from their homelands and relocated to other areas due to their ethnic origins and political leanings, which were influenced by armed groups and political elites within the government administration. as a result, millions of people are subjected to various human rights violations. In order to support the previously stated facts, this study primarily assesses the legislation and practices governing internally displaced person in Debire Birhan. The reason for the displacement and the manner in which rights were violated were assessed in accordance with the guidelines of both domestic and international law. The researcher employed Qualitative research design and used a combination of primary and secondary sources to conduct the research. The study found out Ethiopian Government has failed in its duty to respect the obligations bound by a Kampala convention and to protect the rights of those who have been forcibly displaced and sheltered at the Debire Birhan IDPs Camps. There are currently no laws in Ethiopia that protect the rights of internally displaced persons. It has also failed to put in place strong institutions to prevent internally displaced people from being housed at Debire Birhan without receiving prompt humanitarian assistance and long-term solutions. Therefore the Ethiopian Government should adopt comprehensive IDPs legislation and establish a robust institution to address the plights of IDPs and to implement Kampala Convention.Item Examining The Role of Indigenous Conflict Resolution Institutions in Protection of Human Rights: The Case of Elders Council and Marital Conflict in Dombi Dollo Town(Addis Ababa University, 2025-09-01) Dararo Tadase; Meron Zeleke (PhD)The Study was conducted with the aim of understanding the role of Indigenous Institution of Conflict Resolution in protection/ violation of Human Rights. It particularly focused on the Elders Council/ Jaarsummaa in Dambi Dollo Town. By paying a closer attention to the Jarsumaa institution this study explores the different ways in which the customary institution protects/violates the rights of disputants mainly while resolving marital disputes. The study explores Jaarsummaa as indigenous knowledge and conflict resolution institution and the roles it plays in restoring and harmonizing broken relationship among the community. To realize its intended objectives; the study employed various data collection tools adopting a qualitative research approach. Relevant data for this study were collected both through primary and secondary sources; interview, focus group discussion, through observation and case study. The data collected both from Primary and secondary sources were organized thematically and analysed qualitatively. The finding of the study reveals that the Jaarsummaa institution is preferred among the study community to solve various disputes and reduce legal court caseloads. Indigenous conflict resolution institutions (Jaarsummaa) are still functional and vibrant in Kellem Wallega Zone. Marital dispute is one of the types of conflicts handled by the customary institution in as many prefer taking their personal marital disputes to Jaarsummaa than the formal court as the customary court is believed to resolve conflicts focusing on reconciliation. Keywords: Marital Conflict, Conflict, Conflict Resolution, indigenous, Jaarsummaa, EldersItem Examining the Role of Indiginous Conflict Resolution Institutions in Protection of Human Rights: The Case of Elders Council and Marital Conflict in Dambi Dollo Town(Addis Ababa University, 2025-09-16) Dararo Tadase Deresa; Meron Zeleke (PhD)The Study was conducted with the aim of understanding the role of Indigenous Institution of Conflict Resolution in protection/ violation of Human Rights. It particularly focused on the Elders Council/ Jaarsummaa in Dambi Dollo Town. By paying a closer attention to the Jarsumaa institution this study explores the different ways in which the customary institution protects/violates the rights of disputants mainly while resolving marital disputes. The study explores Jaarsummaa as indigenous knowledge and conflict resolution institution and the roles it plays in restoring and harmonizing broken relationship among the community. To realize its intended objectives; the study employed various data collection tools adopting a qualitative research approach. Relevant data for this study were collected both through primary and secondary sources; interview, focus group discussion, through observation and case study. The data collected both from Primary and secondary sources were organized thematically and analysed qualitatively. The finding of the study reveals that the Jaarsummaa institution is preferred among the study community to solve various disputes and reduce legal court caseloads. Indigenous conflict resolution institutions (Jaarsummaa) are still functional and vibrant in Kellem Wallega Zone. Marital dispute is one of the types of conflicts handled by the customary institution in as many prefer taking their personal marital disputes to Jaarsummaa than the formal court as the customary court is believed to resolve conflicts focusing on reconciliation. Keywords: Marital Conflict, Conflict, Conflict Resolution, indigenous, Jaarsummaa, EldersItem The Duties of the State and Armed Non-State Actors Towards the Right to Life: The Case of East Shoa Zone, Dugda Woreda(Addis Ababa University, 2024-09-01) Nugusu Bedaso; Wondemgen Taddese (PhD)The key international human rights instruments to which Ethiopian is party offer legal protection to the right to life. Likewise, it also provides corresponding State obligations towards the human rights in general and the right to life in particular. The national legal framework, including the FDRE Constitution, and FDRE Criminal Code, also imposes human rights obligations on the state. Regarding the human rights obligations of armed non-state actors, there are emerging practices that requires armed non-state actors to respect and protect human rights, including the right to life. In spite of these obligations, extrajudicial killing and arbitrary deprivation of the right to life have been common practice across the Oromia region in general and East Shoa Zone of Dudga Woreda in particular. Hence, the objective of this thesis is dwelling into the assessment of the adherence of the duties of the state and armed non-state actors towards the right to life with specific reference to the Oromia region, East Shoa Zone, Dugda Woreda. To this ends, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with residents of Dugda Woreda, Dugda Woreda Administration Office, Dugda Woreda Public Prosecutor Office, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the Abba Gada and a practicing lawyer. The thesis also employed semi-structured personal observation format to observe human rights situation of Dugda Woreda. Moreover, the research examined relevant international and regional human rights instruments, general comments, and domestic legal frameworks as well as relevant literature. By doing so, the study found that, the government has failed to respect and protect the right to life of individuals. The study also reveals that, extrajudicial killing and arbitrary deprivation of the right to life are still rampant. As such, violation of the right to life is continued against individuals suspected of having ties with OLA. In similar vein, violations of the right to life continued against individuals suspected of having ties with the government are prevalent in the research area. The studies further demonstrate that, the justice sector has not thoroughly investigated and prosecuted the violators of the right to life. Besides, the study also reveals that, OLA has executed government officials ranging from the Kebeles leader to the high ranking Woreda administration staff for mere affiliation with the government after warning them to resign from power. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher proposed recommendationsItem The human right atrocities committed in Ethiopia during the Tigray war: a case for international judicial and quasi-judicial remedies(Addis Ababa University, 2025-03-01) Brhane Gebremariam; Wondemagegn Tadesse Goshu (PHD)Ethiopia has witnessed systematic and widespread human rights violations for decades, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and measures that violate freedom of speech, the right to life, and other human rights. The successive governments were accused of corruption and political impunity. After the ‘reform’ taken place in 2018, some improvements were initially witnessed in the human rights situation of the country. Political prisoners were released; legislations that restricted freedom of speech and activities of civil society organizations were amended so that the democratic space broadened. However, such promising political and democratic improvements were short lived. Conflicts and widespread violence ruined the process. Particularly, the bloody war in the northern part of the country resulted in the commission of gross human rights atrocities, including rape and sexual abuses, mass killings, mass detention based on ethnic background, enforced displacements, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and war crimes, etc. Even though the war has been stopped after the parties signed the Pretoria agreement, perpetrators are not held accountable for the human right atrocities they have committed. The domestic mechanism is not capable of apprehending the perpetrators, investigating, prosecuting and punishing those who were involved in the serious human rights violations in Ethiopia’s Tigray war. That’s why the international mechanisms should be allowed to address the human rights atrocities committed in the country. Hence, this study will explore the possible international remedies to the human rights atrocities committed during the Tigray war in Tigray, Amhara , and Afar regions.Item Right of the Child for Protection From Corporal Punishment in Home Setting: The Law and the Practice at the Federal Courts of Ethiopia(Addis Aabab University, 2024-09-01) Betelhem Mekonnen; Wondmagen T. Goshu (PhD)This study had assessed the gap that exists in law and practice at federal courts. Empirical legal research method was employed while undertaking the research. Data was gathered from Federal first instance court and federal public prosecutors offices of selected branches using structured interviews, non -participant observation, court records as primary data and legal documents, academic literatures and reports were used as secondary source of data. It is discovered that there is actual gap in law but the practice is in-line with child corporal punishment international laws to some extent. However, the practice had ignored principle of legality issue for parents. From the findings, the researcher concluded that law reform shall be taken by criminalizing all forms of corporal punishment and had indicated future research areas that will enhance the law reform goal towards attainment of the human right childrenItem Protection of Informally Settled Residents From Forced Eviction: A Focus on Addis Ababa, Yeka and Arada Sub-Cities(Addis Ababa University, 2024-09-01) Metasbia Tsegaye; Mizanie Abate (PhD)The primary aim of this study was to assess the protection of informal settlers from forced eviction by analyzing the substantive and procedural safeguards in place, as well as their patterns and extent in the Yeka and Arada sub-cities. A qualitative research approach was employed for data collection, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and key informant interviews. The study finds out that there are both substantial gaps and failure to implement procedural safeguards to protect informal settlers from forced eviction by different bodies. Hence, this leads to the violation of other human rights including the right to housing, the right to livelihood, the right to food. The finding also indicate that the national legal frameworks does not align with different international human rights instruments in regards to the right to adequate housing and protection from forced eviction. The findings also reveal that there is no adequate legal framework to protect the rights of informal settlersItem Children Right and Labour Exploitation in Wolkita Town, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia.(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-01) Moges Alemu; Kassahun Tilahun(phD)The aim of this study is to evaluate children's rights and safeguard them from labour exploitation in Wolkite town. The study examines the circumstances that lead to children entering the workforce, the living and working situations of child laborers, the difficulties and abusive practices they encounter, and the laws that shield children from being exploited. The qualitative research methodology, the most popular research methodology, was used for data collecting in this study. Through focus group discussion, key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and observation, the researcher collected data relevant to the study. This study evaluates child labour laws and their implementation within the studied areas. The Ethiopian government has set up a number of organs in addition to the standard law enforcement and justice systems to combat child labour. The primary issue here is the ill enforcement of these laws which are contained in many national legal instruments. Incompatibility of international law with the domestic one and the culture of the society is also another problem in the study area. As a result, there is a significant discrepancy between national laws and their implementation, and this leads for clear violation of children’s human rights in the study area. The government's comprehension and priority of child protection and child rights must be strengthened in the area of child exploitation and child labour. In summary, this study gives the go-ahead for additional research and creates a favorable environment for potential policymakers to intervene in the issue of children generally and child labour specifically in the study locations and the nation as a whole.Item The Right to Health of Women Prisoners with Hearing Impairment in Selected Prisons of Central Ethiopia Regional State(Addis Ababa University, 2025-01-01) Mitke Mathewos; Anchinesh Shiferaw (PhD)The right to health is a basic human right on its own and is essential for realization of other human rights, as outlined in numerous international and regional human right treaties and standards. Ethiopia ratified various international and regional instruments that guaranteed the right to health of all including women prisoners with hearing impairments. The main objective of this thesis is to assess the realization of the right to health of women prisoners with hearing impairment in selected prisons of central Ethiopia region. To achieve this objective, the study employed a qualitative method which is used to gather data from primary sources and secondary sources through interviews and personal observations. Various key informants were interviewed, including (both able prisoners and women prisoners with hearing impairment), prison health providers, and officials from the central regional state. The study discloses that healthcare services at the selected Prisons do not meet the UN SMR’s principles and minimum standards. There is no sign language interpreter, hearing aid and other alternative mechanisms to communicate with women prisoners with hearing impairments. Furthermore, prisoners including women prisoners with hearing impairments do not get basic medical treatments such as mental health care, dental care and specialized treatment essential for the needs of women prisoner with hearing impairment including hearing examination. In the prisons, insufficient healthcare facility including shortage of medical equipment, medical personals, medications are the main challenges women prisoners with hearing impairment face in addition to insufficient health care service such as referral services, medical screenings and information’s related to sexual and reproductive health without accessible communication formats. Lack of training in sign language to healthcare provider, inadequate awareness to accommodation patients with hearing impairments, double discrimination and stigma, low level of government commitment are the contributing factors for inadequate service to women prisoners with hearing impairments. Insufficient food, water and poor-quality hygienic and sanitation facilities also hinder women prisoners with hearing impairments from leading a healthy and quality life. Therefore, right to health of women prisoners with hearing impairments in selected prisons of Central Ethiopian region is far from realization and does not meet international human right instruments and standards that Ethiopia ratifiedItem The Human Rights Protection and Major Challenges of Internally Displaced Persons: The Case of Resettlement Sites in Dawuro Zone(Addis Ababa Unversity, 2016-06) Tizazu Bayou; Meron Zeleke (PhD)Ethiopia implemented various resettlement programs in different regimes. Part of the different objectives include promoting rational land use; conserving resources; providing access to clean water and to health and education services; strengthening security, and more . This study is aimed to understand the human rights protection of settlers in resettlement sites at Essera woreda of Dawuro zone, southwestern Ethiopia.. The study is a qualitative study which used different data collection methods such as in-depth interview, FGD and personal observation. The study found out the multifaceted violations of rights of settlers ranging from their right to education, the constitutionally guaranteed rights of individuals to promote their culture, to use their language, to preserve and promote their history and identity to their right to employment and the basic political rights. The resettlement sites face huge problems of sanitation, feeble infrastructure and basic facilities such as electricity and water. There is problem of good governance and a tense / antagonistic relationship between hosts and re-settlers that put the sustainability of the program under question. Lack of any responsible body promoting and/or protecting the rights and interests of settlers make the problems more critical. Even though the resettlement scheme in the study area is applauded for enhancing food security and attending to the basic food demand of the settler communities, the settler communities face multifaceted challenges and various violations of rights.Item Assessment of the situation of children’s rights in child care institutions: A case of institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Ruth Derese; Kassahun Tilahun (PhD)Child care institution has both positive and negative effects on children. Children living in child care institutions have basic rights that need to be fulfilled, protected and respected. The purpose of this study was to assess children rights in child care institution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Qualitative approach was followed to gather essential information. Specifically, data were collected using IDIs, KIIs, FGD and observation methods. A total of 54 respondents have participated in this study. Data gathered with tape recorded, transcribed and coded manually within the themes of the data. The finding shows that children’s basic needs were fulfilled and social services were provided well in all the institution. However, some institution were short of fulfilling children’s right to fully enjoy their psychosocial needs. It was also shown that as compared to caregivers, children had a high level of understanding about their rights. Therefore, the study suggest that the institutions should provide trainings for children and care givers about children right and all institutions should improve to fulfill the psychosocial needs of children.Item Challenges and Prospects of Ethiopia’s Pledges Under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework(Addis Ababa University, 2025-02) Birtukan Alemu; Wondemagegn Tadesse(Assistant Profassor)Ethiopia's commitment to supporting refugees and host communities is demonstrated by its 2016 pledges under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and subsequent pledges made in 2019 and 2023. The pledges made in 2016 was followed by legal reforms, including the 2019 Refugee Proclamation, which enshrined essential rights such as freedom of movement, access to work, education, and healthcare and other important rights. Despite these advancements, the implementation of the pledges faces significant challenges, including economic challenges, policy inconsistencies, and social tensions among refugees and local populations. This research assesses the legal and institutional frameworks governing these pledges, highlighting both opportunities for sustainable development and integration, as well as challenges that impede progress. Lastly, recommendations are provided to improve the implementation of the pledges made under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and subsequent pledges. Enhancing economic opportunities and access both for refugees and local communities, strengthening coordination mechanisms between national and subnational actors and other stakeholders, strengthening the normative and institutional frameworks for refugee protection, creating trust among the refugees and local communities and taking other supportive measures are some of the recommendations made by this paper. Ultimately, fostering self-reliance among refugees and enhancing their contributions to the local economy are crucial for achieving long-term stability and resilience in Ethiopia.Item The Role of the Police in Protecting Human Rights against Technology-Oriented Crimes: the Case of Lideta Sub-City(Addis Ababa Unversity, 2024-09) Bilisa Tamrat; Comdr.Demelash (Associate Professor)The rise in technological crimes like online fraud, cyberbullying, hacking, and spreading false information has posed major obstacles for Human right. This research, centered on Lideta Sub-City in Ethiopia, examines the role of the police in safeguarding human rights from breaches. The study utilized a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 22 police officers and 15 technology-related crime victims. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the typical offenses, their effect on human rights, and the difficulties encountered by law enforcement. Furthermore, police reports and crime records were examined as additional sources of data to support the results. The findings indicate that prevalent technology-related offenses in Lideta Sub-City consist of hacking, cyberbullying, financial fraud, and deliberately spreading fake news. Police officers recognized the increasing difficulty of these crimes due to outdated technology and inadequate cybercrime legislation. Around three-quarters of the police officers who were interviewed were team leaders, with 73% being male and having an average age of 35.6 years. Informant mentioned that the lack of proper training and resources was impeding their capability to investigate and prevent such crimes efficiently. Those who were harmed voiced worries about breaches of their privacy, freedom to speak, and safety, with certain individuals experiencing monetary damages from internet scams. This research emphasizes the pressing importance of enhancing technological capabilities, making legal reforms, and providing specialized training to empower law enforcement in protecting human rights. Additionally, it suggests utilizing a multi-stakeholder strategy that includes community education initiatives, partnering with tech professionals, and creating proactive plans to combat the increasing risk of technology-based crimes in Ethiopia. The results highlight the necessity of granting authority to law enforcement to adequately address these crimes, thus safeguarding citizens' rights in the digital era.Item Minimum age for criminal responsibility in Ethiopia and the rights of a child: A comparative Study(Addis Ababa University, 2024-08) Mahlet Beyene; Wondemagegn Tadesse (PhD)Different approaches have been followed by different legal systems concerning the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR). The minimum age of criminal capacity in Ethiopia used to be nine years of age, one of the lowest in the world. The main objective of this research is to explore Ethiopian laws on the minimum age for criminal responsibility of a child vis-à-vis the international rules that govern the juvenile justice administration and compare them with other countries. The study was doctrinal research method with a comparative qualitative analytical approach for the reason that it will endeavor to assess Ethiopia’s MACR with other countries with better jurisprudence on the rights of a child, like; Uganda from common law legal system; Iceland and Sweden from civil law legal system; and Djibouti, and South Sudan from sub Saharan and the horn of East Africa countries. The finding shows that Even though the CRC committee has voiced its worry over the rise of MACR, Ethiopia has yet not take steps toward it, as stated in the general comment. The conclusion is that in Ethiopia, the current provisions fall short of international standards in a number of ways, and that child’s rights are at risk in the current system. Uganda, Djibouti, Iceland, Sweden and south Sudan were fixed much higher minimum ages 12-15 years as of criminal capacity. Thus, Ethiopia must review its laws pertaining to children and bring them in accordance with international law principles. Specifically, the researcher recommend that like Uganda, Ethiopia should make an Amendment to the Criminal Code art 52 and an increase in the MACR from 9 to 12 years old which is least MACR in aforementioned countries.Item Freedom of Expression and Social Movements in the Digital Era: A Case Study of the 2015 Oromo Protest in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University,, 2022) Elsabet Samuel; Meron Zeleke ( Associate Professor )Item The Right to Privacy in the Age of Surveillance: Personal Data Protection in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024) Samuel Worku; Mesfin Beyene (Assistant Professor)This thesis examines the evolving legal landscape governing personal data protection in the age of growing surveillance in Ethiopia. It identifies that due to the lack of sufficient procedural privacy safeguards, abuse of laws to achieve political purposes, and the existence of poor oversight mechanisms that fail to regulate the extensive surveillance powers granted to police and security service agencies, human rights including, the privacy rights of citizens are impacted. However, the personal data protection farmwork introduced by the new Personal Data Protection Proclamation addresses some of these gaps. Despite the new law, however, significant gaps including lack of independent regulatory farmwork remain. The study offers recommendations to enhance the personal data protection framework including, advocating for rigorous implementation of the Personal Data Protection Proclamation, establishment of independent oversight mechanisms, and establishment of regular reporting mechanism on surveillance activities to ensure the use of surveillance powers in transparent, accountable, and proportionate manner.Item The Protection of Ethnic Conflict-Induced IDPs in Ethiopia: A Case Study of Guraferda Woreda in Bench-Maji Zone(Addis Ababa university, 2017-04) Rabel Desalegn; Mizanie Abate(PhD)from natural disasters Ethnic or Inter communal conflict, generalized violence and human rights violations have been identified as the major man-made causes of internal displacement in Ethiopia. Examining, on the basis of international standards, the adequacy of national laws, policies and strategies to properly respond to the plight of IDPs in general and ethnic conflictinduced IDPs in particular is the central subject of this study. To strength the facts a case study of Guraferda forced eviction and displacement is included. The justifications behind the forced evictions and the manner of displacement were assessed on the basis of international law. To this end both primary and secondary sources were employed. Semi-structured interview which detailed on legal standards was utilized to interview both government officials and some of the victims to get a significant primary data. Primarily thematic data analysis and in few occasions explanatory method was employed in data analysis. The study found out that the justifications for the forced evictions of the peasants from Guraferda woreda; holding land and building house without permit, committing deforestation and injuring the ecosystem are not in conformity with international law which specifically outlawed displacements that are not justified by the safety and wellbeing of the displaced or outweighing public interest. Even though the grounds alleged by the authorities could be said reasonable, the manner of the eviction significantly violated several human rights including the right to movement, the right to liberty, the right to life and physical integrity while at the same time it disregarded minimum due process guarantees such as voluntariness, prior information, and proper time to prepare themselves. IDPs in general and ethnic conflict-induced IDPs in particular are not protected in special law, policy, and strategy and or action plan in the country and the existing general policy and action plan do not accommodate the special needs of IDPs. Particularly ethnic conflict-induced IDPs, in addition to the lack of human rights respect and humanitarian assistance, have no guarantee for durable solutions as these sustainable solutions are at the discretionary palm of the concerned local or regional government.Item Compensating Victims of Torture in Ethiopia: The Case of Bodily Injury in Anti-Terrorism Prosecution(Addis Ababa University, 2019-12) Seblewongel Tamiru; Mizanie Abate(Associate Professor)Freedom from torture is an absolute right and is guaranteed under the FDRE constitution as well as international human rights instruments ratified by Ethiopia. Despite its absolute nature, it is one among the rights repeatedly violated throughout the country and the coming of the anti-terrorism law of Ethiopia increases the magnitude. One of the impacts of torture is it can bring bodily injury to victims. And such an injury can mess up their life. This makes it necessary to have an avenue for a legal remedy. Despite the extent of the problem, the practice of compensation claims in our country doesn’t offer much prospect. Based on the collected data, the study finds out that there is a lack of practical applicability of this right in our court as a result of different challenges starting from lack of financial capacity of victims up to the weakness of the judiciary.Item Legal and Practical Responses to the Rights of Ethno-National Minorities in Federal Ethiopia: Case Study of Amhara and Oromia National Regional States(Addis Ababa University, 2018-03) Sisay Mengistie; Assefa Fiseha (Associate Professor)Beginning from the agreement of Westfalia to the Second World War,there was an international attempt to address the claims of minorities. Unfortunately, the end of the Second World War, which had heralded a new era for individual human rights, did not sustain the continuation of addressing minorities’ problems. On top of that the postWorld War I political order of the international community,the recognition and protection of minority rights remained only in asserting the right to equality and prohibition of discrimination. As a result, the present international human rights instruments are not as such inclusive of minority rights. Ethiopia, as an independent state and part of the world community, its successive regimes were not ready to recognize and protect the rights of ethno national minority groups until 1991. However, following the adoption of federal constitutional framework of the country that recognizes and legally guarantees the rights and freedoms of all ethno national groups of the country, almost all regional states of federal Ethiopia have adopted their own regional state constitutions by recognizing the existence and protection of the rights of minorities settled in their respective administrative territories. Ethiopian federal constitution formed regional states mainly along ethno-linguistic basis. The idea is to allow each ethno national group to exercise the right to self-government. However, not all ethno national groups have their own separate regional states. Hence regional states are supposed to provide constitutional space to create institutional arrangements for managing intra-regional ethnic diversity. But, the regional state constitutions and practical implementations of their respective governments in this regard do not comply with the basic principles of FDRE constitution and properly address the rights of existence, equitable representation and self-government of ethno national minorities settled in their region. Considering this reality, the writer of this dissertation frames a research question as follows: how do the legal frameworks of both federal and regional state governments address the rights of ethno national minorities and how have the national regional states under consideration implemented them?To answer the main research question of this dissertation a qualitative approach of data analysis was employed in consolidating and analyzing this dissertation. As a result, various laws (international, continental, national and regional) and other related documents are utilized as important data sources in addition to the semi-structured interview. Based on their political and social knowledge of the issue at hand,the respondents of the interview,were selected by the researcherusing purposive sampling method. Therefore, the study generally attempted to address three interrelated issues on the rights of ethno national minorities such as the right to existence, equitable representation and self-government. It not only investigates the constitutional basis of the aforementioned fundamental rights and freedoms of ethno national minorities but also the perception of the regional state government officials and ethno national minorities covered in the study. The findings from the two case study national regional states of federal Ethiopia revealed that the current political system of Ethiopia -both in terms of its federal design and the operating politico-legal practices have largely failed to respond to the strong demands of ethno national minorities. The federal design of granting autonomy to ethno national groups of the country has fallen short of giving territorial autonomy to all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia- even to those regarded as indigenous ethnic groups to their respective regional states. Apart from the granting of territorial autonomy, it has also, to a certain extent by design, excluded non-indigenous ethnic groups from effective and equitable representation in the respective regional state legislative councils. Even in circumstances where they have been given restricted representation rights, their decision making powers remain ineffective. Hence this dissertation argues that despite the promises made by the federal government to empower all ethno national groups they continue to face consequences of lack of equitable representation and the right to self-government even in the territory they are considered indigenous. The Ethiopian federal system in this regard has not kept its promise. Because as clearly witnessed in the national regional state of Oromia, only the Oromo nation is political recognized and legally allowed to control territorial autonomy of the region. As a result, even the indigenous people of Zay in Oromia region and Kemant community of Amhara region are not politically recognized and represented in the regional councils of the same national regional states respectively. Although it has certain accommodative legal and political system, the Amhara region too restricts the rights of self-government of ethno national minorities. In circumstances where the historic ethno national minorities have participation at regional council, the majoritarian decision-making process of the region makes them unable to counter any determination even sometimes that goes against their interest. The Kemant case is a living experience in this regard. Therefore, unless the various demands of such ethno national minorities living in those regional states are properly addressed through political and legal mechanisms that accommodate the interest of ethno national minorities, the existing discontent may distablize the federal system.Item The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s Power of Investigation of Human Rights Violations and Its Application during State of Emergencies(Addis Ababa University, 2019-12) Soreti Berhanu; Mizanie Abate (Associate Professor)This study assessed the legal and practical challenges the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has faced in the application of the agreeable exercise of its mandate of investigation of human rights violation during state of emergency. By employing a qualitative approach that used both primary and secondary data, the research examined the international and national legal frameworks pertaining to the EHRC power of investigation of human rights violations during SOE emergency; EHRC‟s achievement, and challenges in the investigation of human right violations during the last SOEs. The study‟s key finding is that, although EHRC has the mandate to investigate human rights violations, it was not able to exercise its mandate on any of the appalling human rights violations committed during the last SOEs and has not performed at expected standard. Nonetheless, the study also found that lack of independence was the central problem for EHRC.