Introduction
Article 62
1. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ethiopia) is a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), since 15 June 1998. Ethiopia also ratified the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on 18 July 2018.
2. Ethiopia submitted its Initial to 4th Periodic Report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) at the latter’s 46th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 11 to 25 November 2009.
3. Subsequently, Ethiopia has since submitted its 5th-6th Combined Periodic Report (2009-2013), considered by the Commission during its 56th Ordinary Session, held in Banjul (The Gambia) from 21 April to 7 May 2015. The related Concluding Observations were adopted at the Commission’s 18th Extraordinary Session held in Nairobi (Kenya) from 29 July to 7 August 2015.
4. On 19 January 2024, Ethiopia submitted to the Commission its 7th and 10th combined Periodic Report on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Initial Report under the Maputo Protocol (the Report under review). While it was scheduled to be reviewed at the Commission’s 79th Ordinary Session (May 2024), the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the postponement of the review to the 81st Ordinary Session (October 2024)1, then to the 83rd Ordinary Session (May 2025)2.
5. The Report was reviewed on 9 and 11 May 2025, in the framework of the Commission’s 83rd Ordinary public Session, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 2 to 22 May 2025.
6. A high-level Ethiopian Delegation,3 led by H.E. Mr. Belayihun Yirga Kifle, State Minister, Ministry of Justice, represented the State Party during the review, which was marked by a frank and constructive dialog with the members of the Commission.
7. At the end of the interactive dialog, the Ethiopian Delegation undertook to provide the Commission with more information in writing and sent a written contribution on 11 June 2025.
8. The Periodic Report covers developments in Ethiopia in the promotion and protection of human rights during the period under review. The Commission takes note with appreciation of the participatory and inclusive process that led to the preparation of the Periodic Report, by an inter-ministerial team coordinated by the Ministry of Justice, and including officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, the Central Statistics Service and Federal Prisons Commission (Paragraph 25).
9. In addition, the Report has the merit of focusing on the challenges faced by the Ethiopian authorities in their quest to implement the rights enshrined in the African Charter, inter alia, security problems including the conflict in the north of the Country, health and education challenges and negative social practices.
10. The present Concluding Observations reflect positive aspects and factors limiting the enjoyment of human rights in Ethiopia. They also highlight the areas of concern identified through the review of the Report and the additional information provided subsequently.
11. Finally, the Commission presents recommendations to Ethiopia on measures necessary to strengthen the enjoyment of human rights, as guaranteed by the African Charter, the Maputo Protocol, the Kampala Convention, as well as other relevant regional and international instruments.
Recommandations : Ethiopia should :
- Continue the State Party's commitment to the submission of Periodic Reports, in accordance with the relevant ACHPR Guidelines on State Reporting.
- Include in the next periodic report a section on the implementation of the Kampala Convention, ratified by Ethiopia in June 2020.
- Include in the next periodic report a section on the implementation of the Protocols on the Rights of Older Persons, ratified by Ethiopia in June 2020, following its recent entry into force.
