The Place of Crimes against Humanity under the Ethiopian Legal System: A Reflection

Abstract

Crimes against humanity are among the most heinous forms of international crimes that shock the conscience of mankind. The international community has sporadically prosecuted perpetrators of these crimes since the aftermath of World War II and then after. Apart from international prosecutions, different countries have enacted laws that penalize the commission of such crimes. Some others have applied customary international law to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes. Some years back, Ethiopia has prosecuted former Derg officials for their alleged commission of crimes against humanity. This author intends to explore the place of crimes against humanity under the Ethiopian legal system. The paper begins with the exposition of the concept of crimes against humanity and its constitutive elements under customary international law. It then proceeds to specifically explore the place of crimes against humanity under the Ethiopian legal system. Finally the paper draws a conclusion.