The FDRE Ministry of Justice participated in commemorating International Human Rights Day under the theme “Our Rights, Our Future. Right Now.” Organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the event took place at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa. It brought together institutions and key personalities, including Hon. Tewodros Meheret, President of the Federal Supreme Court; Her Excellency Rakeb Messele, Acting Commissioner of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission; H.E. Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Assistant Secretary-General; and H.E. Darren Welch, British Ambassador to Ethiopia. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) actively participated, alongside key stakeholders, to reflect on Ethiopia’s human rights journey.
In his goodwill message, H.E. Omod Ojlu, Advisor State Minister at the Ministry of Justice, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to human rights, emphasizing the importance of the country’s victim-centered and inclusive transitional justice policy. He highlighted ongoing efforts to draft five key laws to implement a victim-centered and participatory transitional justice process. These include laws on international crimes, institutional reform, the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a Special Prosecutor’s Office, and a Special Bench for transitional justice cases. He also noted advancements in implementing the National Legal Aid Strategy to enhance access to justice for vulnerable groups.
The event concluded with panel discussions featuring Mr. Amanuel Tadesse, Advisor to the State Minister for Institutional Building and Reform Division; Ms. Saba Alebachew, a senior prosecutor from the International Legal Cooperation Department; and representatives from the judiciary, EHRC, CEHRO, and NEWA. The panelists from the Ministry spotlighted significant progress on the works regarding the implementation of victim centered and inclusive transitional justice and ongoing efforts to enact a comprehensive legal aid framework based on the National Legal Aid Strategy. They emphasized that Ethiopia has made notable strides in meeting its commitments pledged at the UDHR75 High-Level Event in Geneva.
