Accommodation of Diversity and Rights of Women in Ethiopian Federalism: The Case of Guraghe Zone, SNNPR
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Date
2018-04
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AAU
Abstract
Absence of women‟s participation/voice in customary local institutions, limited empowerment of women, shallow understanding of autonomy and multiculturalism, and legislative gaps are factors that hinder the protection of rights of women in the family arena within ethno-cultural communities in Guraghe Zone of the SNNPR. This research by examining institutional system for the protection of collective rights and rights of women showed the opportunities and challenges of resolution of conflict of culture and rights at local level. In doing this, the thesis filled the gaps seen in the literature regarding process of transformation of customary local institutions and its limitation as a mechanism of resolution of conflict of culture and rights in the family arena in Ethiopian federalism. The limited emphasis given to rights of women to participate in customary local institutions is the main factor that undermines enforcement of rights of women in the family arena both in the state and non-state institutions. In patriarchal society, such as Ethiopia, women were/are voiceless in the (re)construction of culture, such as customary laws. This is one of the challenges in the process of elimination of discrimination and harmful customary practices against women within ethno-cultural community as well as in the enforcement of right of exit.
Making multicultural feminist standpoint and human rights norms the theoretical and methodological framework for this research; the researcher explored the institutional systems for the promotion and protection of rights of women at local level. These theories have the purpose of resolving conflict of culture and rights, i.e., conflict between collective and individual right, by making all, who are concerned and involved, to have voice in the resolution of those conflicts. Document analysis, interviews, focus group discussion and observation are the methods used to collect qualitative data. Interpretional and reflective method of data analysis has been used to analyze empirical data.