25th September 2024

Shadow report on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s 7th to 10th Periodic Reports (2015-2023) on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol

Achieve legal equality Africa

Quick Links

The Shadow Report on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s 7th to 10th Periodic Reports (2015-2023) on the Implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), submitted on April 23, 2024, highlights the country’s progress, successes and challenges in effectively implementing the Maputo Protocol. The report is a collaborative effort by Equality Now, the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), the Network of Ethiopian Women Association (NEWA), the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC), Ethiopian Women Rights Advocate (EWRA), TIMRAN, and the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Equality Now provided technical guidance and support to the platform of organisations in the development of the Shadow Report and in its subsequent submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

What is the purpose of the report?

The Shadow Report makes numerous recommendations for legal reforms, better implementation of existing laws, and specific actions to address violence, discrimination, and sexual and reproductive health care issues for women. It further emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive policies and practices across all sectors and levels of Government.

Who’s it for?

  • African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
  • Law and policymakers
  • Legal professionals
  • Government institutions

Download your file

Your name(Required)
Marketing consent(Required)

Key recommendations

  • Legal reform: Adopt and amend laws to comprehensively address violence against women and girls (VAWG), including better definitions of sexual harassment, banning child marriage, increasing penalties for FGM, and prohibiting corporal punishment at home.

  • Gender-sensitive mechanisms: Establish and resource procedures and institutions for reporting, investigating, prosecuting, and protecting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), ensuring alignment with international standards.

  • Support and accountability: Enhance coordinated rehabilitation and psychological support for survivors, ensure transparent and speedy criminal investigations and trials, and strengthen measures against trafficking and sexual violence.

  • Awareness and data management: Promote training and awareness-raising for officials and communities, implement effective data collection on SGBV cases, and finalise guidelines on child maintenance and protection efforts.

About

25 September 2024

23 pages

Languages

EN

Classification

Submissions
Achieve legal equality
Africa

More information

For more information, contact programs@equalitynow.org.

Explore more resources

1

2

3

5 May 2026

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Equality Now’s shadow report calls for urgent reform of discriminatory nationality laws across Africa that deny women equal rights to confer citizenship to their children and spouses. These laws heighten the risk of statelessness, poverty, family separation, and violence, undermining the fundamental right to nationality.

Grounded in regional advocacy and human rights standards, the report urges African Union Member States to enshrine gender equality in nationality laws, centre affected communities in reform processes, and sign and ratify the AU Nationality Protocol without delay.

Read more +

EN

Submissions Nationality law Africa

17 April 2026

14 pages

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

Civil society submission to CEDAW highlights budget cuts, weak justice systems, and gaps in legal frameworks affecting survivors of sexual violence in Mexico.

Read more +

ES

Submissions End sexual violence Latin America and the Caribbean

16 April 2026

Tajikistan – Joint submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review 53rd Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council

UPR submission on Tajikistan addressing violence against women and girls, child and forced marriage, disability inclusion, legal reform, and survivor-centred protections.

Read more +

EN

Submissions Achieve legal equality Europe and Central Asia

Newsletter Sign-up

Make a donation

I want to donate