The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), in collaboration with Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), held an awareness raising workshop titled “Making Sense of European Union (EU) Regulatory Initiatives Related to Business and Human Rights and Their Relevance for Ethiopia” on 06 March 2026 in Addis Ababa. The workshop aimed to strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the EU Forced Labor Regulation, as well as to examine their potential implications for Ethiopian businesses and human rights practices.
The event brought together officials and representatives from the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman, the Confederation of Ethiopian Employers Association (CEEA), and the Addis Ababa University Center for Human Rights.
During the workshop Alice Munnelly, Senior Adviser on Human Rights, Business and Technology at the DIHR, outlined key provisions and accompanying measures of the CSDDD and the EU Forced Labor Regulation. Discussions further explored strategic entry points for Ethiopian stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the role of policymakers, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs) and trade unions in raising awareness of emerging EU standards and their implications for Ethiopia and Ethiopian businesses.
Dr. Dawit Moges, Vice President of the CEEA, also provided a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the private sector, highlighting the need for strategic adjustments. Participants underscored that ensuring compliance will require a comprehensive approach, including raising awareness and building institutional and business sector capacity.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Abdi Jibril, EHRC Commissioner for Civil, Political, and Socio Economic Rights, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to align national business practices with international human rights standards. He expressed EHRC’s commitment to supporting awareness-raising, capacity building and consultation forums to advance these efforts.