Jun 21, 2014 hrw ethiopianantiterrorlaw pdf summary. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. The anti terrorism proclamation 2009 has been used extensively to imprison government. Analysis of ethiopia s draft anti terrorism proclamation march 9, 2009 summary this paper analyses ethiopia s draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. I am pleased to be publishing it here, though the contents are anything but pleasing. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. The computer crime proclamation enacted in june 2016 criminalizes online defamation. Definition in this proclamation, unless the context requires otherwise. Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at. Jun 30, 2009 this paper analyses ethiopias draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of.
Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at large. Addis ababa han january 29, 2016 public diplomacy and regional stability initiatives news. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to. Instead, yonatan tesfaye, a former spokesman of the semayawi blue party, was detained in december 2015 on charges under article 4 of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation.
With the african union celebrating the african year of human rights at its 26th summit, at its headquarters in addis, ethiopia, the venue raises serious concerns about commitment to human rights. It compares the merger regulations of the united states. Many dissidents fall into its trap and by day its effect is becoming more farreaching and resonating. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on. African commission on human and peoples rights, antiterrorism, antiterrorism proclamation, article 19 of the iccpr, convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism, eskinder nega, ethiopia, european parliament, human. Proceeding of 5th international conference of phd students and young researchers, 2017 p. This is the conclusion reached by the united nations, the worlds leading democracies, international.
This practice raises serious concerns about the extent to which ethiopians can rely upon their constitutionally guaranteed rights to afford the protection that. The government of ethiopia routinely uses its vague and overly broad antiterrorism law to stifle freedom of expression and political opposition. Eleven statements from his facebook page were used as evidence. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending. News websites were newly blocked for reporting on the oromo protests and a severe. This violence in the name of delivering economic growth is built on the 2009 anti terrorism proclamation, which has allowed the ethiopian government secure complete hegemonic authority by suppressing any form of dissent. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. Proclamation on anti terrorism, published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal republic of ethiopia on 28 august 2009 proclamation against international standards on freedom of expression.
The 20 edition of the human rights and democracy report of the government of the united kingdom uk severely criticized the government of ethiopia for its application of its antiterrorism proclamation and the charities and societies proclamation, which hampers the activity of. The ethiopian government used its sweeping antiterrorism legislation to arrest dozens of people, many of them journalists and opposition figures charged under provisions of the 2009 antiterrorism. In principle, the antiterrorism proclamation and the existing criminal code have high requirements for government prosecutors to prove intent in charges against the press, according to legal experts and cpj analysis. Pdf the purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the. The situation of human rights defenders in ethiopia. The criminal code of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia 2004, art.
Antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian press. This proclamation may be cited as anti corruption commission establishment proclamation no. While legitimate antiterrorism laws have been enacted in a number of countries, these critics of ethiopias. The most problematic features of this proclamation include the extension of the antiterrorism proclamation 2009 and the criminal code of 2004 to electronic communications, including the internet sec. May 30, 2018 ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an anti terrorism law that critics say has criminalised dissent, stateaffiliated media said. Based on earlier drafts of the law previously made available to amnesty international, acts of terrorism are vaguely defined and could encompass the legitimate expression of political dissent.
Jan 20, 2011 a proclamation on anti terrorism proclamation no. The ethiopian government used its sweeping antiterrorism legislation to arrest dozens of people, many of them journalists and opposition figures charged under provisions of the 2009 anti terrorism. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to. The 2009 charities and societies proclamation as a. Sep 29, 2011 the following article is by caelainn barr of the bureau of investigative journalism. Your use of this heinonline pdf indicates your acceptance of. The paper assesses ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and argues that, not only is the definition of terrorism problematic, but also the implementation of the law continues from the weak ends of the law, and makes the ethiopian situation rife for the violation of the right of thought, opinion and expression. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and. By sasahulh yalew, lecturer in law tigrai online, october 14, 20. The 20 edition of the human rights and democracy report of the government of the united kingdom uk severely criticized the government of ethiopia for its application of its anti terrorism proclamation and the charities and societies proclamation, which hampers the activity of the opposition camp of the country. Ethiopias anticorruption commissions mandate is only at the federal level, which includes the chartered cities of addis ababa and dire dawa. International and regional reaction to the human rights situation. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys antiterrorism proclamation no. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status.
Sep 15, 2015 this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human. Nairobi ethiopias draft counterterrorism law could punish political speech and peaceful protest as terrorist acts and encourage unfair trials if enacted, human rights watch said today. Somalia is a collapsed state, where terrorists can operate beyond the rule of law. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression.
The report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of repression, designed and used by the ethiopian government to silence its critics. Four years on, official restrictions remain the greatest threat to the activities of hrds. Since its enactment on july 2009, ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation is at the very center of every political discourse in the almost nation. The draft law is due for consideration in the council of ministers. Unchecked powers of the ethiopian national intelligence and. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation.
The overly broad description leaves journalists in jeopardy of being accused of encouraging terrorism. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. Ever since its promulgation in august 2009, ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation has been a subject of criticisms from western activists. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of expression conference paper pdf available in ssrn electronic journal may 2017 with 4,203 reads how we measure reads. The ethiopian government has used the anti terrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association. The ethiopian government has used the antiterrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association.
Federal ethics and anticorruption commission of ethiopia. Ethiopia uses antiterror laws to silence critical journalists. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys anti terrorism proclamation no. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to control terrorist organizations and property. This article examines ethiopias competition and consumer protection laws, and focusses on merger regulation. What influence has ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation got on the right to freedom of. The conformity of ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation with the oau convention. Ethiopia also promulgated the antiterrorism proclamation in 2009, which also restricts ethiopians ability to criticise their government, and limits the level of scrutiny and oversight to which the government is subjected. Political marginalization, arbitrary arrests, beatings, murders, intimidation, and.
This paper analyses ethiopia s draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Commission means the federal ethics and anti corruption commission. Terrorism in the horn of africa united states institute of peace. Copy of the proclamation is attached to this comment, see appendix 1. I am pleased to be publishing it here, though the contents are anything but. The most problematic features of this proclamation include the extension of the anti terrorism proclamation 2009 and the criminal code of 2004 to electronic communications, including the internet sec. The antiterrorism law makes the criminal code applicable only to the extent that the code is consistent with the antiterrorism law provisions antiterrorism proclamation, 36, supra. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression posted.
Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression posted. In practice, however, ethiopian judges have leniently interpreted these requirements, giving them little or no consideration. Unchecked powers of the ethiopian national intelligence. The law defines acts of terrorism as including damage to property and disruption to any public service, for which an individual could be.
Cite as, national legislative bodies national authorities, ethiopia. Ethiopia s highly controversial anti terrorism law, proclamation no. As part of a series of wide civil service reforms, the government of ethiopia established an anticorruption commission in 2001 and defined powers in the revised proclamation 433 of 2005. Ahbashization has generated significant conflict between the ethiopian government and muslim communities. The antiterrorism proclamation 2009 has been used extensively to imprison government. Currently, the ethiopian parliament has passed an antiterrorism bill. Ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an antiterrorism law that critics say.
The bill was designed based on international antiterrorism conventions and taking the experience of other. Terrorism law undercuts free speech ethiopiantimes. The following article is by caelainn barr of the bureau of investigative journalism. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law ethiopian. In principle, the anti terrorism proclamation and the existing criminal code have high requirements for government prosecutors to prove intent in charges against the press, according to legal experts and cpj analysis. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Repeal the charities and societies proclamation and the anti terrorism proclamation and develop legislation which conforms to the standards set out in human rights council resolution 226 on protecting human rights defenders, including by guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly and promoting the existence of an independent civil society. Two young ethiopian journalists, woubishet taye, deputy editor of awramba times, and reyot alemu, a columnist of fetih newspaper, have been facing terrorism charges under the controversial antiterrorism proclamation no. Proclamation no 4332005 the revised proclamation for the.
Terrorism by antiterrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as antiterrorism proclamation no. The restrictive anti terrorism proclamation, adopted in 2009, makes the publication of statements likely to be understood as encouraging terrorist acts punishable by imprisonment for 10 to 20 years. Proclamation no 4332005 the revised proclamation for the establishment of the federal ethics and anticorruption commission whereas, the government and the peoples of ethiopia recognize that corruption and impropriety are capable of hindering the social, economic and political development of. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no. Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. Antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian. New antiterrorism proclamation jeopardizes freedom. Since the enactment of ethiopias proclamation on antiterrorism in. Whereas, the right of the people to live in peace, freedom and security has to be protected, at all times, from the threat of terrorism.
Ethiopian muslims have not been receptive to islamic fundamentalism and they. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation provides that. A prominent ethiopian political opposition member sits in prison on charges of terrorism. Ethiopia recognized the right to freedom of expression and information by ratifying the international covenant on civil and political rights iccpr in 1993. Tura, husen ahmed, the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of expression july 25, 2017. In july 2011, the government publicly dedicated the ahbash sect as the officially recognized traditional ethiopian islam 2011 proclamation. Fdre house of peoples representatives, the national intelligence and security service reestablishment proclamation no. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and capricious that human rights watch.
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