The Human Rights Protection and Major Challenges of Internally Displaced Persons: The Case of Resettlement Sites in Dawuro Zone
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa Unversity
Abstract
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.