The national reports on human rights and people’s rights in Africa have been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be forwarded to the relevant African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These reports were submitted by Legal Action Worldwide, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in relation to complaints and communications against our country by the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and the African Union.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has responded to the communication (case) filed under No. 782/22. We are currently preparing a response to raise legal arguments on the admissibility of the case.

We have also requested information from the relevant body in order to respond to a communication regarding human rights violations against women in IDP shelters located in Debrebarhan. However, we have not yet received this information.

In terms of fulfilling our obligations in bilateral, continental, and international relations, we have participated in various meetings and forums. This includes the eighth special and ninth regular meetings of experts organized by the special technical committee of the African Union on Justice and Legal Affairs, as well as the fourth Ethio-South Africa Bilateral Ministerial Joint Commission meeting and the 54th regular meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

We have also participated in the preparatory discussions for the 36th Ethio-Kenya Joint Commission of Ministers meeting and coordinated the Ethio-Djibouti bilateral forum organized by the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In addition, we have taken action on individual cases. We have written a letter to an individual in Kuwait to address a legal issue they faced with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have also submitted a judicial transfer cooperation request to allow an Ethiopian imprisoned in China to complete their prison term in Ethiopia.

To improve the respect and enforcement of human rights, we have prepared letters and concept notes to start various initiatives. These include the inclusion of human rights in the education system, the training program of judicial institutions, the signing of international agreements, and media campaigns and awareness-raising activities.

We have also focused on business and human rights, attending a discussion forum in Uganda to learn from the experiences of Kenya and Uganda. We have sought advice and information from Lydia Nabrio, the deputy commissioner of education and human rights, and discussed the possibility of preparing a business and human rights action program with the Human Rights Commission.

The Ministry of Justice has officially accepted the responsibility of leading the work on the action plan. The Addis Ababa Justice Office, together with the human rights focal person, has developed a joint plan to evaluate and report on human rights measures in various sectors of the city administration.

Although the action program has not been approved, we have created a situation to carry out human rights protection activities included in the draft document.