OHCHR, EHRC release Joint Advisory Note on development of Transitional Justice Policy Framework for Ethiopia

OHCHR, EHRC released joint advisory note and key findings stemming from community consultations on transitional justice to inform the development of a Transitional Justice Policy Framework for Ethiopia.

Key preliminary findings of the community consultations are organized under different thematic areas, including peace and security; reparations; truth, acknowledgment, and apology; accountability; guarantees of non-recurrence; meaningful participation; assessment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of transitional justice.

According to the joint advisory note, from July to December 2022, EHRC and OHCHR conducted thirteen field consultations to gather the views of victims of human rights violations and communities affected by conflict, including on traditional and religious processes which promote accountability, truth-seeking, reconciliation and reparations - in an effort to document and amplify their voices and concerns for the relevant authorities.

With such objective, the joint team has so far met communities in Afar, Amhara, Harari, Oromia and Somali regions, and Dire Dawa city administration.

The note also highlights two consultations planned in August 2022 in the Tigray region were postponed due to the resurgence of fighting, although several IDPs from Tigray participated in the consultations held in the Amhara and Afar regions.

While the community consultations are ongoing and will cover all regions of Ethiopia and the Addis Ababa city administration, EHRC and OHCHR consider it important to highlight the preliminary findings of the field consultations conducted so far from a total of 717 individuals including 282 women who constitute victims and families of victims, IDPs, religious and traditional leaders, and grassroot civil society organisations working on human rights and peacebuilding issues. The findings represent the views on TJ related issues during focus group discussions, reflections in plenary and individual interviews. These consultations are part of OHCHR and EHRC’s broader initiative to seek the views of the public in all regions of Ethiopia and complement TJ public initiatives by other institutions.

OHCHR and EHRC believe that this approach, focused on the meaningful participation and experiences of rights-holders, particularly directly affected populations should inform ongoing discussions on the development of a legitimate, holistic, genuine, and inclusive TJ policy. It would also promote transformative reforms that support accountability, truth-seeking, reparations,institutional reform, reconciliation, and foster social cohesion in Ethiopia.

EHRC/OHCHR’s Joint Advisory Note and Key Findings