UN Women Ethiopia supports women only consultation to inform a gender sensitive transitional justice policy 

UN Women Ethiopia Country Office in partnership with the Ministry of Justice through Transitional Justice Working Group of Experts (TJ-WGE) and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, organized a high-level national consultation with women from diverse backgrounds to discuss on the policy options for transitional justice. The consultation aims to ensure women’s meaningful participation and voice in the development of inclusive and gender sensitive transitional Justice Policy for Ethiopia.

The two-day event held from 9-10 June 2023, in Bishoftu town, Oromia region was attended by sixty women participants from women-led Civil Society Organizations, women rights organizations, women advocate, feminist groups, women influencers, female university teachers, women human rights defenders, female media professionals, female service providers to survivors of violence, community representatives and UN agencies.

Ms. Cecile Mukarubuga, UN Women Country Representative, in her opening remarks for the consultation said, “Women must be included in all stages of the transitional justice process, from the design to the implementation of the policy.”

“This is in line with Ethiopia's commitment to include women in different decision-making processes as per the constitution, national legislations, international human rights standards and commitment for women, peace and security agenda.”

“Since women were part of the conflict, Ethiopian women hold the right to be part of the peace process and to contribute for the sustainability of peace.  UN Women Ethiopia is committed to fostering gender equality and ensuring that women's voices are heard at every level of decision-making.” 

“As we move forward, let us remember that women's rights are human rights, and we must work together to create a just, inclusive, and peaceful society for all,” Ms. Mukarubuga.

Dr. Tadesse Kassa, Head of Inter-Ministerial Task Force Secretariat, in his welcoming remarks highlighted the importance of involving women as well as   the commitment of the Working Group of Experts and the Government of Ethiopia to ensure women voices are represented.

“Today’s consultative event is a demonstration of the commitment of the Working Group of Experts, and the Government to ensuring that the voices of women are represented in all forms and contexts. You all agree with us that the central concern of any legitimate consultations process should be to solicit the views and insights of persons that are most affected and often marginalized, which is usually the case with women in Ethiopia,” Dr. Tadesse said.

“So far, we have noticed from the limited rounds of regional consultations that whenever they are given the opportunity, whenever they are not overlooked or marginalized, women could really become owners and proactive actors in any policy design process.”

As part of the consultation, International Center for Transitional Justice made presentations on transitional justice and gender perspectives in transitional justice processes based on lessons learned from other countries. The presentations were followed by identification of transitional justice policy options through group works, prompted discussions on ways of gendering the transition justice policy. 

According to Ms. Fowsia Abdulkadir, the Deputy Commissioner at the Somalia Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the main benefit of involving women in the consultation is to make the transitional justice policy sustainable. “It is essential for women to get involved so that they can anchor it at community and at institutional levels.” 

She added that there should be a mechanism to reach the majority women at the community and village levels including in the rural areas and hear their voices. She said that policy is an abstract concept for women in such areas struggling with everyday life and suggested a two-step approach for women’s participation. The first is to raise their awareness on what a transitional justice means for them and their livelihoods as well as how it impacts them. The second is to engage them in such consultations once they are aware.

Another participant, Ms. Yemwodesh Bekele, the Founder and the Director of a Civil Society Organization, Women Can Do it, shared her reflection.

“I was not at the places where conflicts were practically happening. Depending on media alone for such information is not always reliable. From this consultation, I am able to understand women’s conditions during conflicts and the approaches in justly solving them.”

“Women only consultation is the key to make women get fair justice through the policy being developed,” she added.

In Ethiopia, women and girls have been affected by conflict-related sexual violence, rape, gender-based violence and more.  In addition, other human right violations have created a rift in the society, and they need to be addressed. To this end, the Ministry of Justice has established the ‘Transitional Justice Working Group of Experts (TJ-WGE)’, which is mandated to lead the designing of a comprehensive and context-specific transitional justice policy.

In order to assist inclusion of voices of women at various levels into the transitional justice policy development, UN Women technically and financially supported the two-day women only consultation under its programs “Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)” and “Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPSHA)”. The programs are funded by the Government of Norway, Government of Netherlands, Government of Sweden, and Irish Aid.