A/HRC/42/14
dissidents and leaders of opposition political groups. All opposition political groups that
had been designated as terrorist organizations and banned under the Proclamation on AntiTerrorism had had their terrorist designation lifted and had been welcomed back to the
country. Exiled journalists, writers, politicians and media and political organizations had
returned to the country and were now operating freely. The ban, suppression and blockade
of blogs, websites and satellite television stations had been lifted. Secret places of detention
and sites for gross human rights violations run by the security and law enforcement
agencies had been identified, publicly disclosed and shut down.
10.
Officials and members of security and law enforcement agencies had been charged
for alleged human rights violations. A comprehensive institutional reform programme was
also under way, focusing on the security sector and democratic institutions. The
proclamations establishing the National Defense Force, the National Electoral Board and
the Institution of the Ombudsman had been revised, and those establishing the National
Intelligence and Security Service and the Federal Prison Administration were under review.
A change in the organizational setup and legal framework of key democratic institutions,
security agencies and the judiciary was being implemented.
11.
The Proclamation on Charities and Societies had been repealed and replaced with
the new Proclamation on Civil Society, providing robust protection for freedom of
association while putting in place a reasonable regulatory and accountability mechanism. In
addition, the Proclamation on Anti-terrorism and the legal regime governing the press were
at an advanced stage of revision. The new electoral legislation was expected to be adopted
in the near future.
12.
Pent-up grievances and tensions, at times deliberately stirred by malignant forces,
had posed a serious challenge to reform efforts by causing conflict, instability and
displacement in different parts of the country. Cognizant of the danger, the Government has
taken measures to uphold the rule of law, ensure accountability and foster peace. An
administrative boundaries and identities commission had been established to inquire into,
inter alia, the underlying causes of the frequent communal clashes and conflicts. A national
reconciliation commission had also been established with a mandate to promote
intercommunal understanding, reconciliation and harmony.
13. The overarching vision of Ethiopia was to become a middle-income country by 2025.
A set of development strategies and policies had delivered commendable results. The
Government had worked in close collaboration with international development partners to
attain the goals of the Growth and Transformation Plan. The Productive Safety Net
Programme supported a sizable number of chronically food-insecure people. An enabling
policy environment had been created to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.
14.
Ethiopia had achieved gender parity at the cabinet level, with 50 per cent of
ministerial posts held by women.
15.
Ethiopia had, either fully or partially, implemented almost all of the
recommendations supported, and many of the recommendations noted, at its previous
review.
B.
Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
16.
During the interactive dialogue, 132 delegations made statements.
Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present
report.
17.
Maldives applauded the progress made towards environmentally friendly sustainable
development.
18.
Mali welcomed the measures taken to improve women’s political representation.
19.
Malta noted the State’s commitment to eradicate discrimination.
20.
Mauritania noted the adoption of the Growth and Transformation Plan.
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