View source for Human rights in Ethiopia

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}{{weasel words|date=October 2017}}
{{Politics of Ethiopia}}
According to the [[U.S. Department of State]]'s human rights report for 2022, there exists "significant human rights issues" in Ethiopia. In addition to [[extrajudicial killing]]s and instances of "[[enforced disappearance]]", other human right issues in Ethiopia include [[Arbitrary arrest and detention|arbitrary arrest]], the [[censorship]] and unjustified arrests of journalists, the use of [[Child soldiers in Africa|child soldiers]], and more. <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Ethiopia |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ethiopia/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref>

Reports of human rights violations within the country have been levied at the [[Government of Ethiopia|federal government of Ethiopia]], and by various militant groups and regional militias; including the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]].<ref name=":3" />

== History ==
{{update|section|reason=A brief overview/cross-link on the [[Tigray War]] and other aspects of the 2020 and post-2020 human rights situation is needed|date=June 2024}}
During [[Haile Selassie|Emperor Haile Selassie]]'s reign, laws began to be systematically codified, allowing for the enactment of Ethiopia's first two constitutions: the [[1931 Constitution of Ethiopia|Constitution of 1931]] and the [[1995 Constitution of Ethiopia|Revised Constitution of the Empire of Ethiopia of 1955]], as well as six Codes that remain fundamental to Ethiopia's laws today.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last=Vibhute|first=K. I.|date=January–March 2012|title=Right to Access to Justice in Ethiopia: An Illusory Fundamental Right?|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43953526|journal=Journal of the Indian Law Institute|volume=54|issue=1|pages=67–83|jstor=43953526}}</ref> However, both the 1931 Constitution and the 1955 Constitution systematized the power of the Emperor, leaving out what rights and freedoms his subjects should possess.<ref name=":02" />

After overthrowing Selassie in 1974, [[Mengistu Haile Mariam|Major Mengistu Haile Marium]] established a military dictatorship that subjected its political opponents to "arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, enforced disappearances and extra-judicial execution."<ref name=":02" /> Five years later, Mengistu began the [[Derg]]'s planned transition to a civil government, forming a Commission for the Establishment of the Worker's Party in 1979 and declaring a socialist republic, led by the [[Workers' Party of Ethiopia|Workers Party of Ethiopia]], in 1984.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Brüne|first=Stefan|year=1990|title=Ideology, Government and Development - The People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43660324|journal=Northeast African Studies|volume=12|issue=2/3|pages=189–199|jstor=43660324|issn=0740-9133|archive-date=13 January 2022|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113191717/https://www.jstor.org/stable/43660324|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1987, the [[1987 Constitution of Ethiopia|Constitution of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia]] (PDRE Constitution) formally dissolved the Derg and inaugurated the [[People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia]] (PDRE), a Marxist–Leninist one-party state that was dominated by the military and former Derg members.<ref name=":5" /> The PDRE Constitution outlined basic rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, press, and assembly; freedom of conscience and religion; and the rights of the accused and arrested.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=12 September 1987|title=The Constitution of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia|url=https://chilot.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/1987-ethiopian-constitution1.pdf|access-date=30 October 2020|website=Negarit Gazeta|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022220603/https://chilot.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/1987-ethiopian-constitution1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the PDRE's socialist ideology, the PDRE Constitution emphasized socioeconomic and cultural rights,<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Regassa|first=Tsegaye|year=2009|title=Making Legal Sense of Human Rights: The Judicial Role in Protecting Human Rights in Ethiopia|url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/mlr/article/view/54014|journal=Mizan Law Review|volume=3|pages=288–330|via=African Journals Online|archive-date=17 November 2020|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117011502/https://www.ajol.info//index.php/mlr/article/view/54014|url-status=live}}</ref> such as the right to free education; the right to healthcare; and the freedom to participate in science, technology, and the arts.<ref name=":6" /> However, the same rights established in the PDRE Constitution were violated by Mengistu's military state.<ref name=":02" />

Mengistu's authoritarian military regime faced organized opposition for all of its fourteen years of rule.<ref name=":7" /> Opposition groups including the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party]] (EPRP), a rival Marxist–Leninist group, and the Tigray-based [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]], a coalition of ethnic democratic forces, led armed resistance to the Derg in a conflict known as the [[Ethiopian Civil War]].<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Harbeson|first=John W.|date=September 1996|title=Elections and Democratization in Post-Mengistu Ethiopia|url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/Elections%20and%20Democratization%20in%20Post-Mengistu%20Ethiopia.pdf|access-date=8 December 2020|type=Report prepared for the United States Agency for International Development project on Elections in War-Torn Societies|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329193809/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/Elections%20and%20Democratization%20in%20Post-Mengistu%20Ethiopia.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Teshome B.|first=Wondwosen|year=2009|title=Ethiopian Opposition Political Parties and Rebel Fronts: Past and Present|journal=International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences|volume=3|pages=2068–2076}}</ref> The Derg used violence, commonly enacted through military campaigns, to suppress dissidents.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last=Wiebel|first=Jacob|year=2015|title="Let the Red Terror Intensify": Political Violence, Governance and Society in Urban Ethiopia, 1976-78|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44715382|journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies|volume=48|issue=1|pages=13–29|jstor=44715382|issn=0361-7882|archive-date=27 January 2021|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127220325/https://www.jstor.org/stable/44715382|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1976, the Derg instigated the [[Red Terror (Ethiopia)|Qey Shibir]] (Ethiopian Red Terror), a violent political repression campaign targeting the EPRP.<ref name=":8" /> Under Mengistu's leadership, the Derg did not only rely on state personnel to carry out the Qey Shibir; it also armed militias and civilian supporters and granted "genuine revolutionaries and patriots" impunity, further localizing state violence.<ref name=":8" /> The Qey Shibir resulted in approximately 980 000 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Harff|first1=Barbara|last2=Gurr|first2=Ted Robert|year=1988|title=Toward Empirical Theory of Genocides and Politicides: Identification and Measurement of Cases Since 1945|journal=International Studies Quarterly|volume=32|issue=3 |pages=359–371|doi=10.2307/2600447|jstor=2600447}}</ref> In addition, many victims of the Qey Shibir were subjected to torture, exile, and sexual assault.<ref name=":8" /> The Qey Shibir and the [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|1983-1985 famine]], an event partly created and exacerbated by the government's military policies, increased popular support for the EPRDF, which successfully overthrew Mengistu's regime in 1991.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=De Waal|first=Alexander|title=Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia|publisher=Human Rights Watch|year=1991|location=New York|pages=4–5}}</ref>

The EPRDF took power in 1991 with the promise of a transitional program that would rehabilitate those negatively impacted by the previous regime, promote democracy, and recognize and protect human and minority group rights.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last=Tronvoll|first=Kjetil|year=2008|title=Human Rights Violations in Federal Ethiopia: When Ethnic Identity is a Political Stigma|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24674971|journal=International Journal on Minority and Group Rights|volume=15|issue=1|pages=49–79|doi=10.1163/138548708X272528|jstor=24674971|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite journal|last=Abbink|first=Joe|date=July 1995|title=Breaking and Making the State: The Dynamics of Ethnic Democracy in Ethiopia|journal=Journal of Contemporary African Studies|volume=13|issue=2|pages=149–163|doi=10.1080/02589009508729570}}</ref> The Transitional Period Charter, which was adopted during the post-war conference in 1991, officially established a transitional government.<ref name=":22" /> Drawing from the United Nations' [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], Article 1 of the Charter guaranteed basic rights and civil liberties, specifically freedom of expression, association, and assembly; freedom of conscience; and the right to "unrestricted" political participation and party organization, "provided the exercise of such right does not infringe upon the rights of others."<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=22 July 1991|title=Transitional Period Charter of Ethiopia|url=http://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/ethiopia_transitional_period_charter_of_ethiopia_1991-1995.pdf|access-date=30 October 2020|website=Negarit Gazeta|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101195158/http://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/ethiopia_transitional_period_charter_of_ethiopia_1991-1995.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The Charter also addressed the state of interethnic relations in Ethiopia. Article 17 of the Charter stated that the [[Transitional Government of Ethiopia]] (TGE) would work to de-escalate ethnic conflict as it led the country toward a full democracy.<ref name=":32" /> Article 2 proclaimed the rights of ethnic groups in Ethiopia, which are officially referred to as nations or nationalities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Cohen|first=John M.|year=1995|title="Ethnic Federalism" in Ethiopia|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41931208|journal=Northeast African Studies|volume=2|issue=2|pages=157–188|doi=10.1353/nas.1995.0016|jstor=41931208|s2cid=154783804|issn=0740-9133|archive-date=14 March 2022|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314085333/https://www.jstor.org/stable/41931208|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Among the rights granted to all Ethiopian "nations, nationalities, and peoples" was the right to self-determination, including the right to secede.<ref name=":32" />

In 1994, the EPRDF adopted the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which came into effect following the [[1995 Ethiopian general election|1995 general election]].<ref name=":02" /> Following the blueprint laid out by the Transitional Period Charter, the 1995 Constitution established an ethnic federal system.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":4" /> Like the Charter, the 1995 Constitution draws from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while also establishing protections of group rights.<ref name=":12" /> Articles 14 through 44 of the 1995 Constitution codify "fundamental rights and freedoms," with Articles 14 through 28 pertaining to "human rights" and articles 29 through 44 establishing "democratic rights."<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 December 1994|title=Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Ethiopia_1994.pdf|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Constitute Project|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106101339/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Ethiopia_1994.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2018, [[Abiy Ahmed]] became Prime Minister and promised multiple reforms in terms of human rights. In 2018, his government freed thousands of political prisoners, lifted the state of emergency, ended the [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War]], selected a new [[Council of Ministers (Ethiopia)|cabinet]] among which half the ministers were women, and appointed a woman judge, [[Birtukan Mideksa]], as the head of the [[National Election Board of Ethiopia]] (NEBE).<ref name="BBC_Abiy_PM_April2018" /><ref name="ETReporter_NEBE_chair_Birtukan" />

== Anti-Terrorism Proclamation ==
{{Main|2009 Ethiopian Anti-Terrorism Act}}
Ethiopia's [[2009 Ethiopian Anti-Terrorism Act|Anti-Terrorism Proclamation]] was introduced in 2009.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/009/2011/en/ Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa: Ethiopia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418131456/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/009/2011/en/ |date=18 April 2019 }} AI 27 October 2011</ref> The broad provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation allow the authorities to criminalize the exercise of [[freedom of expression]].<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/ethiopia-swedish-journalists-must-be-released-immediately-and-unconditional Ethiopia: Swedish journalists must be released immediately and unconditionally] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307154631/http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/ethiopia-swedish-journalists-must-be-released-immediately-and-unconditional |date=7 March 2012 }} Amnesty International 21 December 2011</ref> Amnesty International believes that at least 108 journalists and opposition members were arrested in 2011 primarily because of their legitimate and peaceful criticism of the government. The sheer numbers involved in this wave of arrests represents the most far-reaching crackdown on freedom of expression seen in many years in Ethiopia.<ref name=pdf2011>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/011/2011/en/  Dismantling Dissent: Intensified crackdown on free speech in Ethiopia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418131243/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/011/2011/en/ |date=18 April 2019 }} 16 December 2011</ref>

From March 2011 to December 2011 at least 108 opposition party members and six journalists were arrested in Ethiopia for alleged involvement with various proscribed terrorist groups. The detainees had been charged with crimes under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and the Criminal Code. Many arrests in 2011 came in the days immediately after individuals publicly criticized the government, were involved in public calls for reform, applied for permission to hold demonstrations, or attempted to conduct investigative journalism in a region of Ethiopia to which the government severely restricts access.<ref name="pdf2011"/>

Amnesty International believes the individuals will not receive a fair trial and will be convicted for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Many of the detainees complained that they experienced torture and were forced to sign confessions or incriminating evidence. Almost all were denied access to lawyers and family at the start of detention.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/012/2011/en/ Amnesty International report on growing repression in Ethiopia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122065302/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/012/2011/en/ |date=22 November 2018 }} [[Amnesty International]] 15 December 2011</ref>

The trials have become deeply politicized owing to the interest of senior government officials including the Prime Minister who declared in the national parliament that all the defendants are guilty. The Prime Minister has publicly threatened to carry out further arrests. In the first
week of December 135 people were reported to be arrested in [[Oromia]]. Amnesty International calls on the [[United Nations]], [[European Union]], [[African Union]], and governments to: Conduct systematic monitoring of the ongoing terrorism trials and the trials of members of the [[Oromo people]] political opposition arrested during 2011 and make findings public.<ref name="pdf2011"/>

== Political freedom ==
Two journalists and four opposition politicians of the [[Unity for Democracy and Justice]] (UDJ) party, and the Ethiopian National Democratic party, were arrested on 14 September and on 9 September 2011. They were accused of involvement with the [[Ginbot 7]] group, a banned political party.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/008/2011/en/ Amnesty action letter Ethiopia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122065319/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/008/2011/en/ |date=22 November 2018 }} 19 September 2011</ref>

=== Elections ===
According to [[Amnesty International]] citizens were pressured to leave opposition parties in [[Ethiopian general election, 2010|May 2010 elections]]. Voters in [[Addis Ababa]] were reportedly threatened with the withdrawal of state assistance if they did not vote for the [[EPRDF]]. There was political violence: One candidate and several activists were killed. Registration as candidates was reportedly prevented by armed forces. Opposition parties said that their members were harassed, beaten, and detained by the EPRDF in the build-up to the elections. Hundreds of people were allegedly arrested arbitrarily in the [[Oromia region]], often on the grounds of supporting the (OLF), an armed group. Detention without trial, torture and killings of Oromos were reported.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/ethiopia/report-2011|title=Amnesty International &#124; Working to Protect Human Rights|website=www.amnesty.org|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226041316/http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/ethiopia/report-2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front ([[EPRDF]]) consolidated political control with 99.6 percent victory in the May 2010 parliamentary elections. According to [[Human Rights Watch]] the polls were preceded by months of intimidation of opposition party supporters. According to European election observers, the election fell
short of international standards. The government had a five-year strategy to systematically close down space for political dissent and independent criticism.<ref>[[Human Rights Watch]] [https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/wr2011.pdf World Report 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414140057/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/wr2011.pdf |date=14 April 2015 }} page 121</ref>

== Freedom of the press ==
{{Main|Fundamental rights in Ethiopia#Freedom of expression and press}}
The [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] Article 19 of the [[Freedom of speech|freedom of expression]] states: ''Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.''

===1991–2018: EPRDF===
According to [[Reporters Without Borders]] Ethiopia was 139 out of 178 in its latest worldwide index in January 2012.<ref>[http://en.rsf.org/report-ethiopia,16.html Ethiopia Reporters Without Borders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204195134/http://en.rsf.org/report-ethiopia%2C16.html |date=4 December 2011 }} January 2012</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia.html |title=Ethiopia articles Reporters Without Borders |access-date=10 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103181955/http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia.html |archive-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Freedom House]] stated in 2007 that citizens had little access to media other than the state-owned networks, and most private newspapers struggled to remain open and suffered periodic harassment from the government.<ref name="FH Ethiopia">{{cite web |year=2007 |title=Map of Freedom 2007 |url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2007/ethiopia?page=22&year=2007&country=7175 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909123107/http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2007/ethiopia?page=22&year=2007&country=7175 |archive-date=9 September 2013 |access-date=25 December 2007 |publisher=Freedom House}}</ref>

Government censorship, harassment and arrest of bloggers and journalists severely restricts freedom of the press in Ethiopia:
* Between 2005 and 2007, at least 18 journalists who had written articles critical of the government, were arrested on genocide and treason charges. The government used press laws governing libel to intimidate journalists who were critical of its policies. Authorities used concerns over insurgency and terrorism to use torture, imprisonment, and other repressive methods to silence critics following the election, particularly people sympathetic to the registered opposition party [[Oromo National Congress]] (ONC).<ref name="HRW Ethiopia">{{cite web |title=Essential Background: Overview of human rights issues in Ethiopia |url=http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/ethiop14704.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224074548/http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/ethiop14704.htm |archive-date=24 December 2007 |access-date=25 December 2007 |publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref>
* In December 2009, Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were convicted for "rendering support to terrorism" and entering the country illegally "to commit an act that is a threat to the well-being of the people of Ethiopia." Status:Pardoned<ref name="hrwdecimates">{{cite web|title=Ethiopia: Terrorism Law Decimates Media|date=3 May 2013 |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/03/ethiopia-terrorism-law-decimates-media|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=24 August 2014}}</ref>
* In 2011, Hellman-Hammett Award winner Woubshet Taye Abebe was arrested. He was charged under the anti-terrorism law. Before his arrest, he was the deputy editor of the ''Awramba Times''. Status: In prison<ref name="hrwdecimates" />
* In 2012, Reeyot Alemu Gobebo, a journalist for Feteh, was convicted on three counts under the terrorism law and initially sentenced to 14 years in prison. This sentence was reduced to 5 years on appeal. Status: In prison.<ref name="hrwdecimates" />
* In 2012 [[PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award]] recipient [[Eskinder Nega]] was arrested under terrorism charges for his reporting on the [[Arab Spring]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Eskinder Nega, Ethiopia. Status: In Prison|url=http://www.pen.org/defending-writers/eskinder-nega|access-date=31 July 2014|publisher=PEN America|archive-date=26 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726144520/http://pen.org/defending-writers/eskinder-nega|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2014 six members of the [[Zone 9 bloggers|Zone 9 blogging collective]] were arrested under terrorism charges related to their reporting and use of online encryption tools.<ref>{{cite news |title=Contextual Translation of the Charges of the Zone9 Bloggers |url=http://trialtrackerblog.org/2014/07/19/contextual-translation-of-the-charges-of-the-zone9-bloggers/ |access-date=31 July 2014 |publisher=Trial Tracker |date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810142002/http://trialtrackerblog.org/2014/07/19/contextual-translation-of-the-charges-of-the-zone9-bloggers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Habtamu Ayalew]] and other opposition leaders were also imprisoned and tortured from July 2014 to late 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-19 |title=Ethiopia: Drop Case Against Bloggers, Journalists |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/19/ethiopia-drop-case-against-bloggers-journalists |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref>

All of the above individuals were held at the [[Kaliti Prison]].

===2018–present: Abiy Ahmed===
During the [[Abiy Ahmed]] prime ministership that started in April 2018, thousands of political prisoners were released in May 2018.<ref name="BBC_Abiy_PM_April2018" /> The rate of imprisonment of journalists during Abiy's first year of power dropped for the first time since 2004. In April 2019, the media remained [[self-censorship|reluctant to criticize the government]] out of fear of punishment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/03/ethiopia-abiys-first-year-prime-minister-review-freedom-expression|title=Ethiopia: Abiy's First Year as Prime Minister, Review of Freedom of Expression|date=2019-04-03|website=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2019-04-03|archive-date=6 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406214755/https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/03/ethiopia-abiys-first-year-prime-minister-review-freedom-expression|url-status=live}}</ref> From May 2019 to December 2020, ''[[Addis Standard]]'' counted 33 detentions of journalists. Most were released on bail, some without charges. The longest detention prior to bail among those listed was that of Kenyan freelance journalist [[Yassin Juma]], who was detained for 49 days, accused of "inciting ethnic violence and plotting to kill senior Ethiopian officials".<ref name="AddisStandard_33journalists_detained" />

On 27 March 2020, Ethiopian police arrested journalist Yayesew Shimelis following his report about the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Following court orders to release him, police added additional charges, including terrorism charges. The [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] called the new accusations "dubious", and the One Free Press Coalition highlighted him in its May 2020 list of "10 Most Urgent" list of journalists under attack.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethiopian police hold journalist Yayesew Shimelis pending terrorism investigation |url=https://cpj.org/2020/04/ethiopian-police-hold-journalist-yayesew-shimelis-.php |access-date=10 May 2020 |work=cpj.org |date=April 2020 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510094901/https://cpj.org/2020/04/ethiopian-police-hold-journalist-yayesew-shimelis-.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=One Free Press Coalition Spotlights Journalists Under Attack - May 2020 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/one-free-press-coalition-spotlights-journalists-under-attack-may-2020/ |access-date=10 May 2020 |magazine=Wired |date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510124224/https://www.wired.com/story/one-free-press-coalition-spotlights-journalists-under-attack-may-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 May 2020 |title=Ethiopia: Free Speech at Risk Amid Covid-19 |work=Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/06/ethiopia-free-speech-risk-amid-covid-19 |archive-date=21 May 2020 |access-date=8 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521204845/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/06/ethiopia-free-speech-risk-amid-covid-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Freedom of association ==
===Protesters===
In 2005, the [[Ethiopian police massacres|Ethiopian Police Massacre]] took place.  In this, it was claimed that the Ethiopian police massacred almost 200 opposition protesters, who were protesting in response to the May 2005 General Elections. During this, live gunfire from government forces was directed at protesters and bystanders.

===Civil society===
On 6 January 2009, the Ethiopian [[Federal Parliamentary Assembly|parliament]] passed the "Charities and Societies Proclamation (NGO law)", which "criminalizes most human rights work in the country" according to HRW, who added that "the law is a direct rebuke to governments that assist Ethiopia and that had expressed concerns about the law's restrictions on freedom of association and expression."<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/08/ethiopia-new-law-ratchets-repression "Ethiopia: New Law Ratchets up Repression"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113134134/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/08/ethiopia-new-law-ratchets-repression |date=13 January 2015 }}, Human Rights Watch website (accessed 20 March 2009)</ref> The Charities and Societies Proclamation No. 621/2009 of Ethiopia (Civil Society Law or CSO law) was enacted on 6 January 2009. The 2009 CSO law was part of the many measures behind the government's post-2005 authoritarian turn and sought to and to some degree succeeded in either dominating independent civil society or replacing them with Government Owned Non-Governmental Organizations (GONGOs).<ref>Abadir M. Ibrahim, [https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319183824 The Role of Civil Society in Africa's Quest for Democratization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620120050/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319183824 |date=20 June 2021 }} 140 (Springer Pub. 2015)</ref>

According to a paper by the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University School of Law, "The CSO law is the product of the Ethiopian government's deep suspicion of civil society" and has been frequently used to silence any organization that advocates for human rights in Ethiopia.<ref name=":0">[http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/humanrights/documents/EthiopiaCSOPaper-Nov2009.pdf "Sounding the Horn: Ethiopia's Civil Society Law Threatens Human Rights Defenders"], Yalemzewd Bekele Mulat, Cherice Hopkins, and Liane
Ngin Noble, Sandra Babcock and Nicolas Martinez (eds.), Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law, November 2009.</ref> This law is more draconian than a similar Russian law and is most similar to a draft of a Zimbabwean NGO bill that was never signed into law. Research indicates that Ethiopia's CSO law is among the most restrictive in the world.<ref name=":0" />

This law prohibits "foreign" NGO's from engaging in a very wide range of activities including human rights, women's rights, children's rights, disability rights, citizenship rights, conflict resolution or democratic governance.  The definition of "foreign" NGO was broadened to include local NGOs that receive more than ten percent of their funding from foreign sources.  Given that most local NGO's cannot sustain themselves without some foreign funding, this definition is broad enough to include almost all NGO's in Ethiopia. However, the government of Ethiopia itself receives 50 to 60 percent of its national budget from foreign governments, which according to its own definition would clearly make it a foreign entity as well.<ref>[http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/development-aid-ethiopia "Development Aid to Ethiopia: Overlooking Violence, Marginalization, and Political Repression "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115110/http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/development-aid-ethiopia |date=26 August 2014 }}, Oakland Institute, 17 July 2013.</ref>

Over the years Ethiopian organizations that have found themselves to be targets of harassment using the CSO Law include the [[Ethiopian Human Rights Council]] (EHRCO), the [[Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association]] (EWLA) which provided pro bono service to Ethiopian women who could not afford a lawyer.  Despite the fact that Article 31 of the Ethiopian Constitution provides that "every person has the right to freedom of association for any cause or purpose", the prohibition of NGO's by the CSO Law has had the effect of severely restricting citizens' right of association, as members of NGO's can not associate freely. {{citation needed |date=August 2014}}

== Electronic communications ==
{{main|Internet in Ethiopia}}

In 2012, Ethiopia passed a law that criminalizes providing Internet voice communication ([[Voice over IP|VoIP]]) and requiring inspection of any imported voice communications equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africareview.com/Business---Finance/New-Ethiopian-law-criminalises-Skype/-/979184/1426020/-/u7t2ld/-/index.html|title=New Ethiopian law criminalises Skype, installs Internet filters|publisher=[[Nation Media Group|Africa Review]]|date=12 June 2012|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-date=19 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119055751/http://www.africareview.com/Business---Finance/New-Ethiopian-law-criminalises-Skype/-/979184/1426020/-/u7t2ld/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, it prohibits "bypasses the telecom infrastructure established by the telecom service provider", which restricts Internet access to only the [[Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation|ETC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chilot.me/2012/12/13/proclamation-no-7612012-telecom-fraud-offence-proclamation/|title=Proclamation No. 761/2012 Telecom Fraud Offence Proclamation (English translation)|publisher=Ethiopian Legal Brief|date=13 December 2012|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161633/http://chilot.me/2012/12/13/proclamation-no-7612012-telecom-fraud-offence-proclamation/|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abyssinialaw.com/uploads/761.pdf|title=Proclamation No. 761/2012 Telecom Fraud Offence Proclamation|publisher=Abyssinia Law|date=4 September 2012|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227003247/http://www.abyssinialaw.com/uploads/761.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to [[Freedom House]]'s Freedom on the Net 2013 report, Ethiopia ranked 56th out of 60 countries on Internet freedom<ref>{{cite web|title=Freedom on the Net 2013|url=http://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013_Full%20Report_0.pdf|publisher=[[Freedom House]]|access-date=24 August 2014|page=25|date=3 October 2013|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422031920/http://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013_Full%20Report_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and 47th out of 53 in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Freedom on the Net 2012|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202012%20-%20Full%20Report_0.pdf|publisher=[[Freedom House]]|access-date=24 August 2014|page=26|date=24 September 2012|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903050340/http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202012%20-%20Full%20Report_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2016, many Ethiopians protested against the government after they prohibited use of social media, and banned several television channels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37679165|title=Seven things banned under Ethiopia's state of emergency|date=2016-10-17|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=2016-11-24|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005192531/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37679165|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, hundreds of people were killed and hundreds more imprisoned.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ecnmy.org/engage/ethiopia-state-emergency/|title=Ethiopia is in a state of emergency. Here's what's going on|newspaper=Economy|access-date=2016-11-24|archive-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627071241/http://www.ecnmy.org/engage/ethiopia-state-emergency/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Algorithmic content distribution ===
In 2025, [[Meta Platforms|Meta]] faced a $2.4 billion lawsuit for allegedly inflaming violence in Ethiopia through its algorithmic content distribution on [[Facebook]]. The lawsuit, filed by two Ethiopian nationals, accuses Meta of promoting hateful content and incitement to violence, and calls for changes to its algorithm and increased content moderation in [[Africa]]. The case was brought by the son of a murdered academic and a former [[Amnesty International]] researcher who received death threats on the platform. The Kenyan High Court ruled that the case could proceed in Kenyan courts. In 2022, investigations found Facebook had allowed hate speech to spread in Ethiopia, exacerbating violence, especially during the [[Tigray war|Tigray conflict]]. Meta denied the claims but later reduced censorship and fact-checking on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=2025-04-03 |title=Meta faces £1.8bn lawsuit over claims it inflamed violence in Ethiopia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/03/meta-faces-18bn-lawsuit-over-claims-it-inflamed-violence-in-ethiopia |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Women's rights ==
According to surveys in 2003 by the National Committee on Traditional Practices in Ethiopia, [[marriage by abduction]] accounts for 69% of the nation's marriages, with around 80% in the largest region, Oromia, and as high as 92 percent in the [[Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?InDepthID=28&ReportID=69993 |title=Youth in Crisis: Coming of age in the 21st century |publisher=[[Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=14 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205144923/http://www.irinnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?InDepthID=28&ReportID=69993 |archive-date=5 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/ET_real_abduction.pdf|title=UNICEF supports fight to end marriage by abduction in Ethiopia|publisher=[[UNICEF]]|access-date=14 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817054036/http://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/ET_real_abduction.pdf|archive-date=17 August 2011}}</ref>

On 9 November 2021, the ''[[Human Rights Watch]]'' reported that the blocking of Tigray aid by the Ethiopian government, along with health facilities in Ethiopia's northern [[Tigray region]] destroyed, is preventing sexual violence survivors from obtaining essential care. The report named "I Always Remember That Day: Access to Services for Gender-Based Violence Survivors in Ethiopia's Tigray Region," documents the serious health impact, trauma, and stigma experienced by rape survivors since the beginning of the armed conflict in Tigray.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ethiopia: Blocking Tigray Aid Harms Rape Survivor|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/11/09/ethiopia-blocking-tigray-aid-harms-rape-survivors|website=Human Rights Watch|date=9 November 2021|access-date=9 November 2021|archive-date=10 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110000354/https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/11/09/ethiopia-blocking-tigray-aid-harms-rape-survivors|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Female genital mutilation===
According to the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, more than 74% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have undergone some form of genital mutilation and cutting with more than 97% in the [[Somali Region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ethiopia_34881.html|title=Battling an ancient tradition: Female genital mutilation in Ethiopia|publisher=[[UNICEF]]|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116040818/https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ethiopia_34881.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Disability rights ==
Among certain Omotic [[Karo language (Ethiopia)|Karo]] and [[Hamar people|Hamar]] communities in southern Ethiopia, adults and children with physical abnormalities are considered to be [[mingi]], "ritually impure". The latter are believed to exert an evil influence upon others; disabled infants have traditionally been murdered without a proper burial.<ref name="Petros2">{{cite book |last=Petros |first=Gezahegn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bE0wAQAAIAAJ |title=The Karo of the lower Omo Valley: subsistence, social organisation and relations with neighbouring groups |publisher=Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Administration, Addis Ababa University |year=2000 |page=57}}</ref><ref name="mingi-ethiopia2">{{Cite web |author=Matthew D. LaPlante, Special to |date=2011-11-05 |title=Is the tide turning against the killing of 'cursed' infants in Ethiopia? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/05/world/africa/mingi-ethiopia/index.html |access-date=2021-02-10 |website=CNN Digital |language=en |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429072558/https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/05/world/africa/mingi-ethiopia/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Karo officially banned the practice in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lale Labuko |publisher=nationalgeographic.com |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/lale-labuko/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609191136/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/lale-labuko/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2013 |access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>

== Ethnic violence ==
{{Main|Ethnic discrimination in Ethiopia}}

=== Violence against Afar people ===
{{See also|Galikoma massacre}}

=== Violence against Amhara people ===
{{main article|Persecution of Amhara people}}

=== Violence against Oromo people ===
{{main article|Oromo conflict|OLA insurgency}}
A nationwide [[October 2019 Ethiopian clashes|series of violent protests]], concentrated in the Oromia Region, broke out starting on 23 October 2019, sparked by activist and media owner [[Jawar Mohammed]]'s allegation that security forces had attempted to detain him. According to official reports, 86 people were killed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethiopia PM Abiy says death toll from recent protests rises to 86 |website=reuters.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-politics/ethiopia-pm-abiy-says-death-toll-from-recent-protests-rises-to-86-idUSKBN1XD0F6}}</ref> On 29 May 2020, [[Amnesty International]] released a report accusing the [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|security forces of Ethiopia]] of [[Detention (imprisonment)|mass detentions]] and [[extrajudicial killings]]. The report stated that in 2019, at least 25 people, suspected of supporting the [[Oromo Liberation Front|Oromo Liberation Army]], were killed by the forces in parts of the [[Oromia Region]]. Between January and September 2019, at least 10,000 people were detained under suspicion, where most were "subjected to brutal beatings".<ref>{{cite web |date=29 May 2020 |title=New report alleges killings, mass detentions in Ethiopia |url=https://apnews.com/78d1d784e9c7c441df4ee9632557a900 |access-date=29 May 2020 |website=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Ethnic conflict in the Southern regions ===

==== Violence in Konso ====
{{Main article|Ethnic violence in Konso}}

==== Violence against the Amaro Koore people ====
{{Main article|Ethnic violence against Amaro Koore}}

==== Other violence in Gedeo and neighboring Woredas ====
{{See also|Gedeo–Oromo clashes|Oromo–Somali clashes|Metekel conflict}}Ethnic violence in the south between [[Oromo people|Oromo]], the largest ethnic group in the country, and the [[Gedeo people|Gedeo]] and, in the east, between the Oromo and the [[Somalis]] led to Ethiopia having the largest number of people to flee their homes in the world in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/ethiopia-tops-global-list-highest-internal-displacement-2018|title=Ethiopia tops global list of highest internal displacement in 2018|publisher=Relief Web|access-date=7 April 2019|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105232853/https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/ethiopia-tops-global-list-highest-internal-displacement-2018|url-status=live}}</ref> About 1.4 million refugees fled their homes in Ethiopia in 2018. The largest number were from the [[Gedeo–Oromo clashes]], where about 800,000 mostly ethnic Gedeos fled the district of West Guji in Oromia, a higher number and over a shorter period of time, than occurred at the height of Myanmar's [[Northern Rakhine State clashes|Rohingya crisis]] the year before.<ref name=Guardian0319>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/mar/14/shadow-falls-over-ethiopia-reforms-warnings-of-crisis-ignored-abiy-ahmed|title=Shadow falls over Ethiopia reforms as warnings of crisis go unheeded|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=14 March 2019|access-date=7 April 2019|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102140920/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/mar/14/shadow-falls-over-ethiopia-reforms-warnings-of-crisis-ignored-abiy-ahmed|url-status=live}}</ref> The government pressures the refugees to return to their homes even though they fear for their lives, often by denying refugees access to humanitarian aid.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2019/02/28/ethiopia-s-neglected-crisis-no-easy-way-home-doubly-displaced-gedeos|title=Ethiopia's neglected crisis: No easy way home for doubly displaced Gedeos|publisher=The New Humanitarian|date=28 March 2019|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618131353/https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2019/02/28/ethiopia-s-neglected-crisis-no-easy-way-home-doubly-displaced-gedeos|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== The violence against the Anuak people in Gambela ====
{{Main article|Gambela massacre}}
[[Gambela Region]] has a population of 307,000, mainly indigenous [[Anuak people|Anuak]] and [[Nuer people|Nuer]]. Its richly fertile soil has attracted foreign and domestic investors who have leased large tracts of land at favorable prices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tran |first=Mark |date=2012-01-17 |title=Thousands 'forcibly relocated' in Ethiopia, says HRW report |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/17/ethiopia-relocation-programme-report |access-date=2023-09-08 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802121730/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/17/ethiopia-relocation-programme-report |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2008 through January 2011, Ethiopia [[Lease#Land lease|leased]] out at least 3.6 million [[hectare]]s of land, an area the size of the [[Netherlands]]. An additional 2.1 million hectares of land is available through the federal government's land bank for agricultural investment. In Gambella, 42 percent of the land is marketed for investors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-16 |title=Ethiopia: Forced Relocations Bring Hunger, Hardship |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/01/16/ethiopia-forced-relocations-bring-hunger-hardship |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en |archive-date=17 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717233001/http://www.hrw.org/node/104348 |url-status=live }}</ref> A similar 2012 report by [[Human Rights Watch]] also describes the Ethiopian government's 2010–2011 [[villagization]] program in Gambela, with plans to carry out similar resettlements in other regions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horne |first=Felix |date=16 January 2012 |title=Waiting Here for Death |work=Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/01/16/waiting-here-death/forced-displacement-and-villagization-ethiopias-gambella-region |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170314054904/https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/01/16/waiting-here-death/forced-displacement-and-villagization-ethiopias-gambella-region |archive-date=14 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Oakland Institute]] released a report accusing the Ethiopian government of forcing the relocation of "hundreds of thousands of indigenous people from their lands" in the Gambela Region.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |year=2013 |title=Unheard Voices: The Human Rights Impact of Land Investments on Indigenous Communities in Gambella |url=https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/sites/oaklandinstitute.org/files/OI_Report_Unheard_Voices.pdf |journal=The Oakland Institute |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=8 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314153315/https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/sites/oaklandinstitute.org/files/OI_Report_Unheard_Voices.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to several reports by the organization, those who refused were the subject of a variety of intimidation techniques including physical and sexual abuse, which sometimes led to deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2012 |title=Country: Ethiopia |url=https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/country/ethiopia |access-date=14 March 2017 |website=The Oakland Institute |archive-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211101934/https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/country/ethiopia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mittal |first=Anuradha |date=25 February 2013 |title=Indian land grabs in Ethiopia show dark side of south-south co-operation |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/feb/25/indian-land-grabs-ethiopia |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170314050916/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/feb/25/indian-land-grabs-ethiopia |archive-date=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=14 April 2015 |title=Ethiopians talk of violent intimidation as their land is earmarked for foreign investors |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/14/ethiopia-villagisation-violence-land-grab |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414212612/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/14/ethiopia-villagisation-violence-land-grab |archive-date=14 April 2015}}</ref>

The Ethiopian government has denied the accusations of [[land grabbing]] and instead pointed to the positive trajectory of the country's economy as evidence of the development program's benefits.<ref name=":23" />

== LGBT rights ==
{{Main article|LGBT rights in Ethiopia}}
[[Homosexuality|Homosexual acts]] are illegal in Ethiopia. According to [[Ethiopian Criminal Code|Criminal Code]] Article 629, same-sex activity is punished up to 15 years to [[life in prison]].<ref>{{cite news |date=16 June 2016 |title=Here are the 10 countries where homosexuality may be punished by death |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/13/here-are-the-10-countries-where-homosexuality-may-be-punished-by-death-2/ |archive-date=8 August 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808081825/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/13/here-are-the-10-countries-where-homosexuality-may-be-punished-by-death-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ethiopia has been a socially conservative country. The majority of people are hostile towards LGBT people and persecution is commonplace on the grounds of religious and societal norms. Homosexuality came to light in the country after the failed 2008 appeal to the Council of Ministers, and the LGBT scene began to thrive slightly in major metropolitan locations, such as Addis Ababa. Some notable hotels like [[Sheraton Addis]] and [[Hilton Addis|Hilton Hotel]] became hotbeds of accusations for alleged lobbying.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Katie |date=12 December 2013 |title='A Graveyard for Homosexuals' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/graveyard-homosexuals-244926 |access-date=2 December 2021 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202212308/https://www.newsweek.com/graveyard-homosexuals-244926 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Church]] plays a frontal role in opposition; some of its members formed anti-gay organizations. For example, Dereje Negash, one prominent activist, founded "Zim Anlem" in 2014, which is a traditionalism and [[anti-gender movement]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopia groups to stage anti-gay protest |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/4/11/ethiopia-groups-to-stage-anti-gay-protest |access-date=2 December 2021 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202130312/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/4/11/ethiopia-groups-to-stage-anti-gay-protest |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the 2007 [[Pew Global Attitudes Project]], 97 percent<ref>The number of adults (all were 18 to 64 years of age) surveyed in Ethiopia was 710, yielding a margin of error of 4 percent with a 95 percent confidence level.</ref> of Ethiopians believe homosexuality is a way of life that society should not accept. This was the second-highest rate of non-acceptance in the 45  countries surveyed.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Pew Global Attitudes Project", (pages 35, 81, and 117) |url=http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/258.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214225525/http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/258.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2010 |access-date=3 December 2009}}</ref>

==Law enforcement==
{{Main article|Police brutality in Ethiopia}}
[[Police force]] unlawful use of force has become a recent phenomena in Ethiopia. During the Derg regime, the security sector had a primary role to repress opposition groups and rebel rivals. There have also been sightings of abusing the local population. The violation also existed during the EPRDF era; in the [[2005 Ethiopian general election violence|protest]] of the [[2005 Ethiopian general election|2005 general election]], 193 people were killed by police forces initiated by government crackdown.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=DeRouen |first1=Karl R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSLeN4U_C6kC&dq=police+brutality+in+ethiopia&pg=PA255 |title=International Security and the United States: An Encyclopedia |last2=Bellamy |first2=Paul |date=2007-12-30 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-08486-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2022 |title='I fought the law and the law won': Community Policing in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia |url=https://www.africaportal.org/documents/18456/Research-Paper-53.pdf |page=7 |access-date=26 June 2022 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003111302/https://www.africaportal.org/documents/18456/Research-Paper-53.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Article 52 of the Constitution, the Federal Police was obligated to administer state police force and maintain public order and peace within the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Law on police use of force in Ethiopia |url=https://www.policinglaw.info/country/ethiopia |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=The Law on Police Use of Force |date=13 April 2021 |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004070725/https://www.policinglaw.info/country/ethiopia |url-status=live }}</ref>

Police brutality reappeared during Abiy Ahmed tenure.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=Ethiopian Police service recognition event at Meskel Square |url=https://borkena.com/2022/06/05/ethiopian-police-service-recognition-event-at-meskel-square/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Borkena Ethiopian News |language=en-US |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628182136/https://borkena.com/2022/06/05/ethiopian-police-service-recognition-event-at-meskel-square/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 26 August 2019, a video of a handcuffed man beaten by two officers went viral on [[Twitter]], with many shared outrage against the government administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2019-08-27 |title=Viral video of Addis Ababa police brutality: Ethiopians call for justice |url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/08/27/viral-video-of-addis-ababa-police-brutality-ethiopians-call-for-justice/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Africanews |language=en |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812181114/http://www.africanews.com/2019/08/27/viral-video-of-addis-ababa-police-brutality-ethiopians-call-for-justice/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Incidents ===
According to a report released by [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW) in June 2008, the Ethiopian army has committed widespread [[execution]]s, [[torture]] and [[rape]] in [[Ogaden]], as part of a [[counterinsurgency]] campaign.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hrw.org/node/74305 | title = Ethiopia: Army Commits Executions, Torture, and Rape in Ogaden | publisher = [[Human Rights Watch]] | date = 2008-06-12 | access-date = 2008-06-22 | archive-date = 26 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150426000859/http://www.hrw.org/node/74305 | url-status = live }}</ref> The Ethiopian [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] responded with a big press release stating that they performed an investigation during August and September of that year, which "found no trace of serious human rights violation let alone war crimes or crimes against humanity" during their response to the [[Abole oil field raid]], but claimed the investigation found "a mass of evidence of further systematic abuses committed by the ONLF."<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.et/Press_Section/Press_Statement_26_November_2008.htm "Human Rights Watch: Flawed Methodology, Unsubstantiated Allegations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429204040/http://www.mfa.gov.et/Press_Section/Press_Statement_26_November_2008.htm |date=29 April 2009 }}, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (accessed 17 March 2009)</ref> However, the [[U.S. State Department]]'s annual report on human rights notes that [[Lisan Yohannes]], a "former ruling party insider", led the investigation, an appointment which "opens questions about the independence of the investigation."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090226174959/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/119001.htm "2008 Human Rights Reports: Ethiopia"], Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US State Department (accessed 8 July 2009)</ref>

Following the State of Emergency declared in 2016, there were reports of thousands of deaths of citizens.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2017/af/276999.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422124447/https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2017/af/276999.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-04-22|title=Ethiopia|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> After protests in Oromo, Amhara, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's region, The Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported that there were 669 deaths on aggregate.<ref name=":1" /> According to other NGOs and Oromo region officials, there were hundreds of deaths due to militia groups in the eastern side of Ethiopia.<ref name=":1" />

On 30 June 2020, Amnesty International called upon the Ethiopian authorities to thoroughly and impartially investigate the 29 June killing of popular Oromo singer [[Hachalu Hundessa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/06/ethiopia-popular-musicians-killing-must-be-fully-investigated/|title=Ethiopia: Popular musician's killing must be fully investigated|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Amnesty International|date=30 June 2020|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630163513/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/06/ethiopia-popular-musicians-killing-must-be-fully-investigated/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Detention centers ===
{{see also|:Category:Prisons in Ethiopia}}
In a 2017 HRCO report, detention centers in Ethiopia came under scrutiny.<ref name=":1" /> The prisons are overcrowded, for example a prison in Asella has a capacity of 400 people, but holds 3000 detainees. The prisoners were beaten and some killed, like Ayele Beyene in Kilinto who was beaten by guards and then his wounds were ignored which eventually led to his death.<ref name=":1" /> Once people are placed in the prison system their families have little knowledge of their whereabouts. Detainees in some places cannot receive visitors and there is no database or organization to find the location of prisoners.<ref name=":1" />

In the 2017 HRCO report, the conditions of the Finote Selam Prison in Amhara, the Awash Arba Prison, and Kilinto Prison, were revealed.<ref name=":1" /> In the Finote Selam Prison the reports indicated the detainees were beaten and tortured, and the Amahara and Oromo ethnicities were given worse treatment than other groups. Detainees were also subjected to spend time immersed in latrine pits of human feces. In the Awash Arba Prison, they were overcrowded, unfed, beaten, and forced to do manual labor.<ref name=":1" /> In addition, the detainees spent time outside walking barefoot and sitting in the sun for consecutive days. In Kilinto, the prisoners were forced to give confessions at the threat of physical punishment, while being mistreated.<ref name=":1" />

In 2018, under the new leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Government closed Jail Ogaden in the [[Somali Region]] of Ethiopia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/09/22/ethiopia-s-somali-region-closes-notorious-jail-ogaden/|title=Ethiopia's Somali region closes notorious 'Jail Ogaden' {{!}} Africanews|last=AfricaNews|work=Africanews|access-date=2018-12-02|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203104047/http://www.africanews.com/2018/09/22/ethiopia-s-somali-region-closes-notorious-jail-ogaden/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jail Ogaden was operated under the former leader of the Somali Region, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, with many of the imprisoned there without charges against them.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/07/04/we-are-dead/torture-and-other-human-rights-abuses-jail-ogaden-somali-regional|title="We are Like the Dead" {{!}} Torture and other Human Rights Abuses in Jail Ogaden, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia|date=2018-07-04|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2018-12-02}}</ref> A [[Human Rights Watch]] report indicates that the prisoners were malnourished, beaten, and kept in small confines that promoted rampant disease spread.<ref name=":2" /> The former head of the prison Shamaahiye Sheikh Farah was arrested in September 2018 for his role in the prison. Shamaahiye's most infamous incident of torture was having a month of hunger, where none of the prisoners were allowed to eat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unpo.org/article/21125?id=21125|title=UNPO: Ogaden: Former 'Jail Ogaden' Prison Commissioner Arrested|website=unpo.org|access-date=2018-12-02|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152125/https://unpo.org/article/21125?id=21125|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Historical situation==
The following chart shows Ethiopia's ratings from 1972 to 2011 in the [[Freedom in the World]] reports, published annually by [[Freedom House]]. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".<ref name='FH1972'>{{cite web | url = http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FIW%20All%20Scores%2C%20Countries%2C%201973-2012%20%28FINAL%29.xls | title = Country ratings and status, FIW 1973-2012 | access-date = 2012-08-22 | author = [[Freedom House]] | year = 2012 | format = XLS | archive-date = 24 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120424223549/http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FIW%20All%20Scores%2C%20Countries%2C%201973-2012%20%28FINAL%29.xls | url-status = live }}</ref>{{ref|a|1}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none; "
!Historical ratings
|-
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|- style="background:#eee; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
| style="width:3em; text-align:left;" | Year
| style="width:3em;" |[[Political Rights]]
| style="width:3em;" |[[Civil Liberties]]
| style="width:3em;" |Status
| style="width:3em;" |[[List of Emperors of Ethiopia|Ruler]]/[[List of Presidents of Ethiopia|President]]{{ref|b|2}}
|- align=center
| align=left | 1972
| style="background:#99f;" |5
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |[[Haile Selassie I]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1973
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Haile Selassie I
|- align=center
| align=left | 1974
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |5
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Haile Selassie I
|- align=center
| align=left | 1975
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |[[Tafari Benti]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1976
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Tafari Benti
|- align=center
| align=left | 1977
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Tafari Benti
|- align=center
| align=left | 1978
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |[[Mengistu Haile Mariam]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1979
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1980
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1981
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1982{{ref|c|3}}
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1983
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1984
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1985
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1986
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1987
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1988
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1989
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1990
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1991
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Mengistu Haile Mariam
|- align=center
| align=left | 1992
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Meles Zenawi]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1993
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Meles Zenawi
|- align=center
| align=left | 1994
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |5
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Meles Zenawi
|- align=center
| align=left | 1995
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Meles Zenawi
|- align=center
| align=left | 1996
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Negasso Gidada]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1997
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Negasso Gidada
|- align=center
| align=left | 1998
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Negasso Gidada
|- align=center
| align=left | 1999
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Negasso Gidada
|- align=center
| align=left | 2000
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Negasso Gidada
|- align=center
| align=left | 2001
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Negasso Gidada
|- align=center
| align=left | 2002
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Girma Wolde-Giorgis]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2003
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2004
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2005
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2006
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2007
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2008
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2009
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2010
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|- align=center
| align=left | 2011
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |6
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Girma Wolde-Giorgis
|}
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none; "
|+Report from Freedom of the World since 2017
!Historical ratings
|-
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|- style="background:#eee; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
| style="width:3em; text-align:left;" | Year
| style="width:3em;" |[[Political Rights]]
| style="width:3em;" |[[Civil Liberties]]
| style="width:3em;" |Status
| style="width:3em;" |[[List of Emperors of Ethiopia|Ruler]]/[[List of Presidents of Ethiopia|President]]{{ref|b|2}}
|- align=center
| align=left | 2017
| style="background:#99f;" |4
| style="background:#99f;" |8
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |[[Mulatu Teshome]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2018
| style="background:#99f;" |4
| style="background:#99f;" |8
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |[[Sahle-Work Zewde]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2019
| style="background:#99f;" |7
| style="background:#99f;" |12
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Sahle-Work Zewde
|- align=center
| align=left | 2020
| style="background:#99f;" |10
| style="background:#99f;" |14
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Sahle-Work Zewde
|- align=center
| align=left | 2021
| style="background:#99f;" |9
| style="background:#99f;" |13
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Sahle-Work Zewde
|- align=center
| align=left | 2022
| style="background:#99f;" |12
| style="background:#99f;" |11
| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free
| style="background:#99f;" |Sahle-Work Zewde
|}
|}

==International treaties==
Ethiopia's stances on [[International human rights law|international human rights treaties]] are as follows:

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none; "
!International treaties
|-
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|- style="background:#eee; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
| Treaty
| Organization
| Introduced
| Signed
| Ratified
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide]]<ref name='UN 1'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-1&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Paris, 9 December 1948 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020233944/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-1&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=20 October 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | [[United Nations]]
| style="background:#9f9;" |1948
| style="background:#9f9;" |1948
| style="background:#9f9;" |1949
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination]]<ref name='UN 2'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-2&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. New York, 7 March 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211223019/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-2&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=11 February 2011}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1966
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1976
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]]<ref name='UN 3'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917040858/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=17 September 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1966
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1993
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]]<ref name='UN 4'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901184638/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=1 September 2010}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1966
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1993
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]]<ref name='UN 5'>{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 5. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = [[United Nations]] | archive-date = 24 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190324125027/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |1966
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity]]<ref name='UN 6'>{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-6&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 6. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York, 26 November 1968 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = [[United Nations]] | archive-date = 16 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181116072232/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-6&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |1968
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid]]<ref name='UN 7'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-7&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 7. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. New York, 30 November 1973 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718122932/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-7&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=18 July 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1973
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1978
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]]<ref name='UN 8'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 18 December 1979 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823144158/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=23 August 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1979
| style="background:#9f9;" |1980
| style="background:#9f9;" |1981
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment]]<ref name='UN 9'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-9&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 9. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108052518/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-9&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=8 November 2010}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1984
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1994
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]]<ref name='UN 11'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, 20 November 1989 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211151110/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=11 February 2014}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |1989
| style="background:#9f9;" |-
| style="background:#9f9;" |1991
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty]]<ref name='UN 12'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. New York, 15 December 1989 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020234014/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=20 October 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |1989
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families]]<ref name='UN 13'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-13&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. New York, 18 December 1990 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825222904/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-13&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=25 August 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |1990
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]]<ref name='UN 8b'>{{cite web| url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en| title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 6 October 1999| access-date = 2012-08-29| author = [[United Nations]]| archive-date = 20 May 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110520040105/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |1999
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#ff9; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict]]<ref name='UN 11b'>{{cite web| url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-b&chapter=4&lang=en| title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. New York, 25 May 2000| access-date = 2012-08-29| author = [[United Nations]]| archive-date = 25 April 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425032942/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-b&chapter=4&lang=en| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#ff9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#ff9;" |2000
| style="background:#ff9;" |2010
| style="background:#ff9;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography]]<ref name='UN 11c'>{{cite web| url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-c&chapter=4&lang=en| title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11c. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New York, 25 May 2000| access-date = 2012-08-29| author = [[United Nations]]| archive-date = 13 December 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131213004558/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-c&chapter=4&lang=en| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |2000
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | [[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]]<ref name='UN 15'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819033725/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations
| style="background:#9f9;" |2006
| style="background:#9f9;" |2007
| style="background:#9f9;" |2010
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]]<ref name='UN 15a'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15-a&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15a. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113202037/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15-a&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |2006
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance]]<ref name='UN 16'>{{cite web| url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-16&chapter=4&lang=en| title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 16. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006| access-date = 2012-08-29| author = [[United Nations]]| archive-date = 17 July 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190717085558/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-16&chapter=4&lang=en| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |2006
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]]<ref name='UN 3a'>{{cite web| url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en| title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 10 December 2008| access-date = 2012-08-29| author = [[United Nations]]| archive-date = 18 July 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120718111116/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |2008
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|- align=center
| style="background:#99f; align=left" | [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure]]<ref name='UN 11d'>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-d&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11d. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure . New York, 19 December 2011. New York, 10 December 2008 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=[[United Nations]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825214748/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-d&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=25 August 2012}}</ref>
| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations
| style="background:#99f;" |2011
| style="background:#99f;" |-
| style="background:#99f;" |-
|}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Africa}}
* [[Ethiopian Judicial Authority v Swedish journalists 2011]]
* [[Human trafficking in Ethiopia]]
* [[Internet in Ethiopia#Censorship]]
* [[Kaliti Prison]], a notorious prison where numerous journalists are held
* [[LGBT rights in Ethiopia]]
* [[Politics of Ethiopia]]
* [[Woineshet Zebene]]
* [[Yegna]], feminist pop group
* [[List of detained journalists and activists in Ethiopia (2023)]]
* [[Tigray War]]
** [[War crimes in the Tigray War]]
** [[Sexual violence in the Tigray War]]
** [[Famine in northern Ethiopia (2020–present)]]
*[[Fundamental rights in Ethiopia]]

== Notes ==
:1.{{note|a}}Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore, the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.
:2.{{note|b}}As of 1 January.
:3.{{note|c}}The 1982 report covers the year 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three-year-long reports through interpolation.

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="BBC_Abiy_PM_April2018">{{cite news | first1=Fergal |last1=Keane |author1-link=Fergal Keane |title= Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed: The leader promising to heal a nation | date= 2019-01-03 |newspaper= [[BBC News]] | url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46735703 |access-date=2020-12-19 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20190103110822/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46735703 |archive-date= 2019-01-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="AddisStandard_33journalists_detained">{{cite news | title= Analysis: Less than three years after declaring "new era", Ethiopia is back in the list of countries jailing journalists. We traced 33 cases | date= 2020-12-16 |newspaper= [[Addis Standard]] | url= https://addisstandard.com/analysis-less-than-three-years-after-declaring-new-era-ethiopia-is-back-in-the-list-of-countries-jailing-journalists-we-traced-33-cases/ |access-date=2020-12-19 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20201219223424/https://addisstandard.com/analysis-less-than-three-years-after-declaring-new-era-ethiopia-is-back-in-the-list-of-countries-jailing-journalists-we-traced-33-cases/ |archive-date= 2020-12-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="ETReporter_NEBE_chair_Birtukan">{{cite news | last1= Anberbir | first1= Yohannes | title= Chairwoman steps up | date= 2018-11-24 |newspaper= [[The Reporter (Ethiopia)]] | url= https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/chairwomen-steps |access-date=2020-12-19 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20201219225855/https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/chairwomen-steps |archive-date= 2020-12-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208101047/http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/37/ Censorship in Ethiopia] - [[International Freedom of Expression Exchange|IFEX]]
* [https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/ethiopia/report-2012 2012 Annual Report], by [[Amnesty International]]
* [http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/ethiopia Freedom in the World 2012 Report], by [[Freedom House]]
* [https://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-ethiopia World Report 2012], by [[Human Rights Watch]]
* [https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo42122 Ethiopia after Meles: Democracy and Human Rights: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, 20 June 2013]

{{Africa in topic|Human rights in}}
{{Ethiopia topics}}
{{Human rights in Ethiopia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Rights In Ethiopia}}
[[Category:Human rights in Ethiopia| ]]
[[Category:Human rights by country|Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Politics of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Society of Ethiopia]]