Assessment of the Legal Protection of Refugees in Ethiopia: A Case Study at Sherkole Refugee Camp-assosa
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Date
2009-11
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AAU
Abstract
The research focuses on Refugees in Sherkole camp-Assossa. It examines
the situation of the refugees in terms of their civil, political, Socio economic
and cultural status in Ethiopia and explores their situation in the context of
a refugee camp. It is mainly concerned with the type of the legal protection
that they are awarded with both in the international and domestic refugee
legal Instruments. It also investigates the rights of Refugees relating to
access to territory, access to full fledged asylum procedures and human
rights protections in Ethiopia.
The approach used for this research is mainly a qualitative one which is
suitable for the issue at hand. In-depth interviews and focus group
discussions were conducted in the research. In addition, personal
observation of the researcher and questionnaires were used in order to see
the actual protection accorded to the refugees at camp level. From the data
that were collected through these means the research described the
assessment of the protection of the refugees at the normative frame work
and in practice.
It was uncovered through the undertaking of this research that the legal
framework for refugees in Ethiopia to a large extent converges with the
international convention. The legal protection relating to access to
territories, access to full-fledged procedures, non refoulement, non-
expUlsion, family unity or reunification, right to freedom of religion and
access to justice is well respected in the normative framework.
Nevertheless the legal rights of refugees to primary education and freedomof movement and the standard of treatment of refugees in wage-earning
employment are restricted.The data gathered mainly through in-depth interview revealed that there is
prolonged Refugee Status Determination, Spontaneous returnees,
restricted freedom of movement, inadequate subsistence allowance, denial
of identity paper, language barriers in the exercise of some rights, failure
of repatration programs. This was found mainly due to lack of commitment
and technical know-how on refugee issues and financial constraints