Photo Credit : Secretariat Council of Constitutional Inquiry
The Center for Human Rights participated in a public hearing organized by the Council of Constitutional Inquiry on October 18, 2025, offering advisory opinion on Residential Housing Rent Control and Administration Proclamation No.1320/2024 and Directive No. 7/2016 issued by the Addis Ababa City Administration Housing Development Bureau. The issue in dispute are whether the laws are promulgated following strict constitutional systems and whether the laws breach basic human rights enshrined in the constitution – like the right to property and the right to access to justice.
The Center for Human Rights organized a Networking and Experience Sharing Workshop
on “Free Legal Aid Services and Other Human Rights Initiatives” on October 16, 2025, in Addis Ababa.
The workshop brought together representatives from universities, government institutions, and CSOs to share experiences, lessons learned, and strengthen partnerships in advancing free legal aid and human rights initiatives in Ethiopia.
Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Ezana Amdework, Dean of CSSAH, followed by Dr. Anchinesh Sheferaw, Head of the Center, who presented the Center’s experiences, focusing on opportunities and challenges in advancing multidisciplinary human rights scholarship and community engagement within the framework of institutional autonomy.
Key presentations were delivered by Arba Minch University, reflecting on sustaining impact amid declining aid, while Arsi University and Haramaya University shared their institutional experiences in advancing free legal aid and human rights initiatives. The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) also provided valuable insights on the Free Legal Aid Services Draft Proclamation.
Participants actively engaged in discussions, approved the Ethiopian Lawyers Association as a new member, and concluded the workshop with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration among universities, government bodies, and CSOs in advancing free legal aid and human rights initiatives in Ethiopia.
The Center for Human Rights hosted a two-day National Policy Dialogue Forum in Addis Ababa from August 25–26, 2025, under the theme “The Human Rights of Vulnerable Communities in Conflict-Affected Ethiopia.” The forum brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and human rights advocates to address the pressing challenges faced by vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia.
In his welcoming speech, Dr.Fasil Mulatu, Head of the Center for Human Rights, emphasized the Center’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in Ethiopia through education, research, and community engagement. He highlighted the Center’s initiatives, which include multidisciplinary academic programs, free legal aid services, capacity-building efforts, and the organization of policy dialogue forums grounded in research-based approaches.
Dr.Ezana Amdework, Executive Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (CSSAH), addressed the urgent need to respond to the humanitarian crises caused by ongoing conflicts across the country. He noted that widespread displacement, emotional trauma, and violations of human rights demand immediate attention. As part of its academic mission, the university aims to contribute by generating evidence-based policy recommendations to support vulnerable populations at national, regional, and local levels.
Researchers affiliated with the Center presented key insights and recommendations centered on six major themes: the rights of ethnic minorities displaced by conflict, the vulnerability of the ethnic minority amid conflict ; the role of hate speech and disinformation in inciting violence against ethnic and religious minorities ; the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in conflict situations and their quest for visibility and inclusion; the experiences and resilience pathways of children affected by conflict; and the integration of child rights and children’s voices in Ethiopia’s transitional justice and reconciliation processes.
The forum aimed to foster collaborative dialogue and generate actionable policy recommendations to bridge existing gaps and promote human rights-based approaches in national responses.
In his closing address, Dr.Fasil Mulatu, Head of the Center for Human Rights, expressed deep appreciation for the active engagement of participants and their valuable feedback. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in shaping the policy dialogue brief documents and reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to advancing human rights protections across Ethiopia.
Center for Human Rights delivers Specialized Training on the Human Rights of IDPs
The Center for Human Rights delivered a postgraduate-level specialized training on “The Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia from August 11–15, 2025, in Addis Ababa. Held in the context of development project implementation, the training engaged high- and mid-level government officials from federal and regional offices, as well as leaders of civil society organizations (CSOs).
The program aimed to enhance participants’ understanding and skills in addressing the human rights issues affecting IDPs, with a focus on the minimum substantive standards and mandatory procedural requirements rooted in due process and the rule of law. Participants explored the causes, impacts, and theoretical models of internal displacement, and their relationships to human rights, development, and the rule of law. The training also covered the phenomenon and characteristics of IDPs, the legal and institutional frameworks in Ethiopia, and the impacts of development projects on their rights. It also addressed monitoring and evaluation approaches relevant for policymakers and development program leaders. Participants were actively engaged in discussions and case study analyses, focusing on how to integrate human rights–based approaches into their institutional responsibilities and the processes and outcomes of development programs. Dr. Fasil Mulatu, Head of the Center for Human Rights, underscored, in his closing remarks the importance of strengthened institutional commitment to safeguarding the rights of IDPs and integrating human rights–based approaches into all stages of development planning and implementation.
On 29 July 2025, the Governing Board of Addis Ababa University approved the promotion of Professor Christophe Van der Beken to the rank of Full Professor. The Center for Human Rights extends its heartfelt congratulations to Professor Christophe Van der Beken on his well-deserved promotion to the rank of Full Professor.
With over two decades of dedication to higher education and research, his work has profoundly shaped the discourse on federalism, minority rights, good governance, and constitutional law in Ethiopia and beyond.
Professor Van der Beken exemplifies scholarly excellence, international collaboration, and a commitment to advancing human rights. We are deeply proud to have him as a cornerstone of our academic community.
