25th September 2024

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 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 Ethiopia Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), the Network of Ethiopian Women Association(NEWA), the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC), Ethiopian Women Rights Advocate (EWRA), TIMRAN, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Equality Now provided technical guidance and support to the platform of organizations 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

Key takeaways and 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 finalize guidelines on child maintenance and protection efforts.

Explore more resources

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The United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls (WGDAWG) 

The United Nations Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls will visit Zimbabwe to understand issues related to discrimination against women and girls.

Kazakhstan – Information for Consideration by Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at its Pre-Sessional Working Group in July 2025

In our submission, we detail concerns regarding laws related to sexual violence and child and forced marriage, as well as procedures and practices that effectively deny access to justice for women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence and child and forced marriage.

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa

Equality Now calls for stronger implementation of the Maputo Protocol, including lifting reservations, reforming discriminatory laws, ending FGM, and ensuring State accountability.

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