On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, commemorated each year on 25 November, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reiterates its call for legal and structural measures to ensure, comprehensive, accessible and survivor-centered criminal justice response for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
EHRC’s monitoring of the Ethiopian criminal justice system has shown that the system does not adequately respond to survivors of SGBV in accordance with international and regional human rights standards due to legal, institutional and physical barriers. The absence of effective protective measures to shield survivors from additional harassment, threat, retaliation, and violence; the inadequacy of criminal justice professionals’ knowledge and skills required to engage with survivors of violence and the inefficient service of one-stop centers are exposing survivors to secondary victimization. The legal system does not recognize the need for survivors to receive psychosocial services, rehabilitation and temporary shelter.
Recalling its monitoring report on the criminal justice system’s response to survivors of violence against women and children, EHRC urges relevant state authorities and non-state actors to adopt comprehensive, accessible, and survivor-centered measures. These measures include enacting separate procedural laws to better protect the rights of survivors of violence against women, recognizing protective measures, and implementing regular training programs to enhance the skills of legal professionals and service providers handling such cases. Additionally, EHRC calls for improving the accessibility of the justice system and one-stop centers, as well as legally recognizing and expanding temporary shelters, rehabilitation programs, and psychosocial services for survivors.
Rigbe Gebrehawaria, Commissioner for Women, Children, Older Persons and Disability Rights, stated “to prevent violence and put an end to impunity, a comprehensive, accessible and survivor-centered justice system that can hold offenders accountable and protect survivors from double victimization is essential”. She added, the government and all stakeholders have a responsibility to work towards this goal.
