Human Rights and Freedom in Ethiopia

https://www.humantruth.info/ethiopia_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2018

#ethiopia #ethiopia_women #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Ethiopia Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	154th best
Location	Africa
Population	109.2m₁
Life Expectancy	64.97yrs (2017)₂

Ethiopia is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Ethiopia does worse than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₃, freethought₄, speed of uptake of HR treaties₅, opposing gender inequality₆ (still good for Africa), supporting press freedom₇, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₈ and in LGBT equality₉. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₁₀ and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₁₁. There are severe restrictions on independent media, political life and civil society, with "arbitrary detention of those who do not actively support the government"₁₂. In 2017, security forces killed over 1000 protesters and detailed "tens of thousands more"₁₂.

1. Ethiopia's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Africa (2020)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	S. Africa	56.1
2	Seychelles	66.7
3	Namibia	69.4
	...
32	Congo, (Brazzaville)	115.0
33	Cameroon	115.2
34	Guinea	116.5
35	Ethiopia	116.7
36	Guinea-Bissau	117.0
37	Gambia	117.2
38	Liberia	117.8
39	Central African Rep.	121.0
40	Malawi	123.2
	Africa Avg	108.2
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Sweden	9.0
2	Norway	14.5
3	Denmark	14.5
	...
146	Cameroon	115.2
147	St Lucia	116.0
148	Guinea	116.5
149	Ethiopia	116.7
150	Guinea-Bissau	117.0
151	Gambia	117.2
152	Liberia	117.8
153	Qatar	119.2
	World Avg	87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₁₄. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu₁₄.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia₁₄.

For more, see:

"Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Ethiopia stated:

“The federal government continued to impose restrictions on humanitarian aid to Tigray and halted all deliveries in August until November. Thousands of Tigrayan detainees were held arbitrarily in dire conditions, often in unofficial places of detention without access to lawyers. Opposition leaders were held in violation of court orders for their release. Government security forces and armed groups were responsible for the unlawful killings of civilians, which in some cases may have amounted to war crimes. Promises to investigate these crimes remained unfulfilled. Multiple incidents of conflict related rape and other sexual violence were committed by Tigrayan forces in the Afar region. The right to freedom of expression was significantly eroded.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₅

Ethiopia has a "closed political space", with just one ruling coalition.

“[There exists] broad restrictions on civil society and independent media, decimation of independent political parties, harassment and arbitrary detention of those who do not actively support the government, severely limited space for dissenting voices. Despite repeated promises to investigate abuses, the government has not credibly done so, underscoring the need for international investigations.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

2. Human Rights & Tolerance

2.1. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₃
Pos.		2017 Score₃
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
102	Equatorial Guinea	-7
103=	Swaziland	-7
103=	Indonesia	-7
103=	Ethiopia	-7
106	Russia	-8
107=	Turkmenistan	-8
107=	Algeria	-8
107=	Central African Rep.	-8
	Africa Avg	-5.6
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

In terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, Ethiopia is positioned 15th-worst in the world.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

2.2. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₈
Pos.		2009 Treaties₈
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
134	Antigua & Barbuda	13
135=	Nepal	13
135=	Djibouti	13
137	Ethiopia	12
138=	Haiti	12
138=	Dominica	12
138=	Central African Rep.	12
138=	Bahrain	12
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

With regard to its nominal commitment to Human Rights, Ethiopia is 137th in the world.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

The first round of international treaties on human rights began in the 1940s after the founding of the United Nations. For the following few decades, Ethiopia regularly signed and ratified almost all such treaties, except a few. However, since 1989, it has signed only two, and, ratified only one.

2.3. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₅
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₅
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
109	Lithuania	11.03
110	Mozambique	11.04
111	Tajikistan	11.08
112	Ethiopia	11.13
113	Slovenia	11.13
114	Dominica	11.14
115	Benin	11.15
116	Chad	11.23
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Ethiopia is 112nd in the world regarding speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

"Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

2.4. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

#freedom #politics

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better₁₁
Pos.		2014 Rank₁₁
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
139	Congo, (Brazzaville)	139
140	Nigeria	140
141	China	141
142	Ethiopia	142
143	Mauritania	143
144=	Egypt	144
144=	Saudi Arabia	144
146	Chad	146
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

In terms of supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, Ethiopia is positioned 18th-worst in the world.

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]
The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]
Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”
"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₁₆

2.5. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Lower is better₇
Pos.		2013₇
1	Finland	638
2	Netherlands	648
3	Norway	652
	...
133	Jordan	3847
134	Thailand	3860
135	Morocco	3904
136	Ethiopia	3957
137	Tunisia	3993
138	Indonesia	4105
139	India	4122
140	Oman	4151
	Africa Avg	3511
	World Avg	3249
q=178.

Ethiopia is 136th in the world regarding supporting press freedom.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₇

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

“The state tightly controls the media landscape [...] making it challenging for Ethiopians to access information that is independent of government perspectives. Many journalists are forced to choose between self-censorship, harassment and arrest, or exile. [...] Scores of journalists, including Eskinder Nega and Woubshet Taye, remain jailed under Ethiopia´s anti- terrorism law. In addition to threats against journalists, tactics used to restrict independent media include harassing advertisers, printing presses, and distributors.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

2.6. Slavery

#burundi #eritrea #france #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery Lower is better₁₈
Pos.		2018 % Victims₁₈
1	Japan	0.03
2=	Canada	0.05
2=	Taiwan	0.05
	...
112	Montenegro	0.59
113	Nepal	0.60
114=	Croatia	0.60
115	Ethiopia	0.61
116=	India	0.61
117	Tanzania	0.62
118=	Equatorial Guinea	0.64
118=	Ukraine	0.64
	Africa Avg	0.96
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

In terms of eliminating modern slavery, Ethiopia ranks 115th in the world.

The taking of slaves has been an unwholesome feature of Human cultures since prehistory₁₉. Private households and national endeavours have frequently been augmented with the use of slaves. The Egyptian and Roman empires both thrived on them for both purposes. Aside from labourers they are often abused sexually by their owners and their owners' friends₂₀. The era of colonialism and the beginnings of globalisation changed nothing: the imprisonment and forced movements of labour continued to destroy many lives except that new justifications were invented based on Christian doctrine and the effort to convert non-Christians. By 1786 over 12 million slaves had been extracted from Africa and sent to colonial labour camps, with a truly atrocious condition of life₂₁. But they were not the only ones to blame; in Africa internal nations such as the Asantes sold and bought tens of thousands of slaves₂₂.

The abolition of the slave trade was a long and slow process. Until a relatively modern time, even philosophers, religious leaders and those concerned with ethics justified, or ignored, the problem of slavery₂₃. The first abolitionists were always the slaves themselves. Their protests and rebellions caused the industry to become too expensive to continue. After that, it was the economic costs of maintain slave colonies that led the British to reject and then oppose the slave trade globally. Finally, the enlightenment-era thinkers of France encouraged moral and ethical thinking including the declaration of the inherent value of human life and human dignity₂₄. A long-overdue wave of compassionate and conscientious movements swept across the West, eliminating public support for slavery, until the industries and churches that supported it had no choice but to back down.

'Modern slavery' includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones and the vulnerable.₂₅. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₆, Eritrea₂₆, Indonesia₂₇) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say that in 2016, 40.3 million people were living in modern slavery₂₈.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

3. Gender Equality

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Ethiopia and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Ethiopia is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.

See:

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₆
Pos.		2015₆
1	Switzerland	0.04
2	Denmark	0.04
3	Netherlands	0.04
	...
113	Morocco	0.49
114	Guatemala	0.49
115	Nepal	0.50
116	Ethiopia	0.50
117	Guyana	0.51
118	Iran	0.51
119	Bangladesh	0.52
120	Senegal	0.52
	Africa Avg	0.54
	World Avg	0.36
q=159.

(still good for Africa)In terms of opposing gender inequality, Ethiopia ranks 116th in the world.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₁₀
Pos.		2022 %₁₀
1	Sweden	31.8₂₉
2	New Zealand	34.4₃₀
3	Australia	37.0₃₀
	...
68	Zimbabwe	98.7₃₀
69	Yemen	98.7₂₉
70	Azerbaijan	98.7₂₉
71	Ethiopia	98.9₃₀
72	Iraq	98.9₃₀
73	Haiti	98.9₂₉
74	Ghana	99.0₂₉
75	India	99.1₂₉
	Africa Avg	98.10
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

Ethiopia ranks 18th-worst in the world with regard to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators).

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		0 Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
100=	Belize	1954
100=	Ghana	1954
102	Nicaragua	1955
103=	Ethiopia	1955
103=	Peru	1955
103=	Eritrea	1955
103=	Honduras	1955
103=	Cambodia	1955
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Ethiopia ranks 102nd in the world regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice

4.1. LGBT Equality

#equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #sexuality #tolerance

LGBT Equality Higher is better₉
Pos.		2017 Score₉
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
141=	Mauritius	-10
141=	Myanmar (Burma)	-10
141=	Barbados	-10
144	Ethiopia	-14
145=	Eritrea	-14
145=	Brunei	-14
145=	Swaziland	-14
145=	Kenya	-14
	Africa Avg	-10.4
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Ethiopia ranks 144th in the world regarding LGBT equality.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₁. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country across the world, often against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right, protected by privacy laws₃₂. Despite this, homosexual activity is outlawed in around 80 countries₃₁. The Social & Moral LGBT Equality Index was created to compare countries and regions, granting points to each country for a variety of factors including how long gay sex has been criminalized and the extent of LGBT legal rights. Graded negative points are given for criminality of homosexuality, unequal ages of consent, legal punishments and for not signing international accords on LGBT tolerance. The signs in many developed countries are positive, and things are gradually improving. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region (Scandinavia in particular being exemplary). The Middle East and then Africa are the least morally developed, where cultural bias goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

"LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₄
Pos.		2021₄
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
	...
109	Zambia	3.3
110=	Vanuatu	3.3
110=	Malawi	3.3
110=	Ethiopia	3.3
110=	Paraguay	3.3
110=	Madagascar	3.3
110=	Italy	3.3
110=	Macedonia	3.3
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Ethiopia comes 109th in the world regarding freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₃₃. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₃₄. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₃₅ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₃₆. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₃₇. The best countries at doing so are Taiwan, Belgium and The Netherlands₄_,₃₈ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₄_,₃₉.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₀. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₃₄, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₁ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₂ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).