The Federal Attorney General has publicized the initial draft report of its Universal Periodical Review (UPR) to collect a feedback and additional comments towards enriching the document which is going to be presented to the United Nations Human Right Council in May, 2019. It is the first time for Ethiopia to publicize external party review of its human right track record and to invite the public to comment on HR matters.
Thedraft report, which is open for comments for stakeholders, is prepared inline with the UN Human Rights Council Decision 17/119 outliningthe measures taken by the government regarding the respect, protection and fulfillment of its commitments taken-up during the previous round of review.
Thereport also aims to present the successes and challenges to implement the accepted recommendations so far.
According to the information obtained from the website of the AG, the report is prepared by an Inter-Ministerial team of mid-level government officials and senior experts led by AG.
The draft report, which is now openfor further feedbacks and comments, is organized mainly on four broad pillars which are cross cutting issues, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and rights of specific persons or groups.
In this regard, in the cross cutting issues, matters related to political framework & good governance, non-discrimination, national human rights institutions, the national human rights action plan, human rights education and training, acceptance of international norms, cooperation with special procedures and other international mechanisms and institutions, inter-state cooperation & development assistance, cooperation with civil society, human rights and counter-terrorism, and environmental rights are dealt with.
In the part where matters related to civil and political rights are considered, a range of issues such as prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, conditions of detention, trafficking in persons, liberty & security, arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of opinion and expression, administration of Justice and fair trial, right to participate in public affairs & right to vote and rights related to marriage & family are discussed.
Right to food, right to social security, human rights & extreme poverty, human rights & drinking water and sanitation, right to just and favorable conditions of work, right to health, and right to education are matters that the draft report covers in the economic, social & cultural rights section.
On the part where rights of specific persons or groups, the report details matters related to persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, discrimination against women, political participation of women, economic and social empowerment of women, gender based violence, female genital mutilation and early marriage, juvenile justice and human rights defenders are discussed.
