Human Rights under the Ethiopian Constitution: A Descriptive Overview

Abstract

This article summarizes human rights under the Ethiopian Constitution (mainly surrounding Chapter 3 of Constitution and related constitutional provisions on human and democratic rights), and forwards some insights. It, inter alia, covers various aspects of the application and interpretation of human rights provisions, limitation and derogation from protected rights, the amendment procedure and constitutional adjudicatory jurisdiction. The relevance attached to international and regional human rights instruments and their status in the Ethiopian hierarchy of laws is noted. Although there are some references to factual situations, the article primarily considers the constitutional landscape. The article thus attempts to cover a wider spectrum of issues, and its purpose is not to discuss each issue in detail, but to forward an overview and offer some insights.

Key words: Human rights, The Ethiopian Constitution, Ethiopia, constitutional adjudication, constitutional amendment, constitutional remedies