The workshop was intended to identify common areas of engagement and collaboration with multiple stakeholders such as International Organizations, International Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and other donors that are crucial for the effective implementation of the plan and have vested interests on the justice reform processes.
The workshop was opened by a welcome speech from HE. Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of FDRE Ministry of Justice. The Minister in his remark recalled the legal reforms that have been undertaken since the new leadership in 2018 and pointed out that significant legislative reforms initiatives were undertaken to address public grievances that were the causes for the civil and political unrest that ravaged the country since 2016.
His excellency has also explained why the initiative is called a justice transformation plan instead of justice reform by its transformative component such as introduction and acknowledgment of community centered justice. This is a significant departure from regular justice reform initiatives that we have undertaken in the past. The transformation plan, as pointed out by HE, is not going to follow a top-down approach but will be owned and run by all stakeholders including the community at the grass root level. The experience from Oromia Regional State on community based justice has also been highlighted.
A Keynote has been delivered by HE. Dr. Ermias Yemanebirhan, State Minister of Institutional Building and Reform at FDRE Ministry of Justice. His excellency reiterated that a justice sector is the cornerstone of any thriving society. He further noted that it is an institution that carries unparalleled significance and is intrinsically embedded in the fabrics of societal relationships and orderly co-exitance. Transforming the sector with the view of building a strong and modern justice sector ensures the protection of rights, upholds the rule of law, and fosters trust in institutions. Dr. Ermias has further explained why we have chosen a transformation highlighting the holistic nature of transformation, its long-term impact, its ability to embrace innovation and meaningful engagement of all stakeholders. He also noted that transformation plan will provide us with a powerful framework to address the complex challenges that our justice system is struggling with.
This was followed by a presentation on the Three-Year Justice Transformation Plan by Mr. Amanuel Tadesse, an Advisor to the State Minister of Institutional Building and Reform. Mr. Amanuel has delivered his presentation on the legal reform initiatives that were undertaken in Ethiopia between 1950s – 2018, institutional reform undertaken at the Ministry of Justice, major impediments that necessitated he transformation process, the background, objectives, expected outcomes and scope of the Three Years Transformation Plan, core principles of the roadmap and the ten strategic plans of the transformation.
The presentation was followed by questions, comments and discussions by participants, and remarks and recaps were finally made from the stage.
