The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice announced in a press conference last Friday, the establishment a national body in charge of coordinating activities to prevent violence against women and children. The newly set up body would not only follow up cases of violence and bring them to justice but also work to raise public’s awareness on the issue.
A prosecutor has been deployed in each of the 10 sub cities of Addis Ababa to follow up cases of women, children and youths. Moreover, ‘activities are underway’ to set up centers at hospitals that would exclusively handle cases of violence regarding women and children, according to Hibret Abahoy, head of Women, Children and Youths’ affairs of the Ministry.
Deputy attorney general of the Ministry, Yohannes Abebe, insisted that Ethiopia’s law pertaining to violence against women and children stipulates ‘due punishment on offenders’. He claimed further that the Ministry has attached ‘due attention’ to rehabilitate victims of psychological trauma and alert the public on preventive measures.
This comes after heightened media attention and strong criticisms from activists concerning violence against women, in the local media last month, prompted by two appalling incidents.
The first was the story of Shewaye that surfaced in the news on August 29, following the oust of Libyan leader Muamer Gadhafi.
Shewaye was serving as a nanny for Gadhafi’s son Hannibal. Shewaye said Aline, wife of Gadhafi’s son Hannibal, poured boiling water on her for failing to keep a child quiet. In an interview with CNN Shewaye described the horror saying: “She took me to a bathroom. She tied my hands behind my back, and tied my feet. She taped my mouth, and she started pouring the boiling water on my head like this," imitating the vessel of scalding hot water being poured over her head. Shewaye indicated that she had never received a payment for her services.
A day after the news reports, the Ethiopian Government expressed its ‘deep disappointment over Gadhafi family’s act of severely injuring an Ethiopian woman by pouring boiling water’. Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Spokesperson, Ambassador Dina Mufti said the government received information of the injured Ethiopian woman on August 30, 2011 and held discussion with the victim’s family the following day. She claimed further that the government is gathering all the necessary information relating to the incident.
The second incident, however, took place last month in Addis Ababa. Media reports indicated that a hostess of the national flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, had lost her sight after her husband attacked her with a knife. To the dismay of Women rights activists, the judge allowed the man to be released on bail, though he admitted committing the crime. The activists expressed their disappointment in a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting for mechanism to hold law enforcement and judicial bodies accountable.
The Ethiopian law permits bail n cases other than where the alleged crime is not punishable by 15 years imprisonment or death, where the victim has died or likely to die and corruption charges.
Children’s parliament national conference
Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis, Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives, Abadula Gemeda, and Chief Ombudswoman, Fozia Amin, attended the Children’s parliament national conference that commenced in Addis Ababa, last Monday.
The conference is organized to help children’s parliament across the nation share views amongst themselves on issues pertaining to them. It also sees to promote their performances and honor their achievements. The conference heard reports of children’s parliaments from 11 regional states and two city administrations.
The parliaments’ reports heard in the conference revealed that child labor, rape, early marriage and abduction are still some of the major problems children are facing.
The reports also indicated that the children’s parliaments have been involved in the processes of legally addressing crimes against children in their respective regions
Addressing the Conference, President Girma cited article 36 of the Ethiopian constitution as a symbolic feature of government’s commitment to human and democratic rights of children. The President expressed the government’s commitment to protecting children’s human and democratic rights.
Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives, Abadula Gemeda for his part called on government administrations at different levels to do their best to create forums for children participation in various issues relating to them. The Speaker pledged to consider and act upon suggestions of the parliaments’ representatives in the conference.
Chief Ombudswoman, Fozia Amin said though improvements have been registered in terms of children’s rights in the past years, there are still works to be done for the society to give due attention to children’s needs.
[Referenced from reports by Waltainfo, ERTA, ENA, EthiopianReporter and CNN.]
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