A/HRC/44/49/Add.1 Proclamation on Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information and the electoral law and bringing them into line with the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments. 4 Since the universal periodic review, overt steps taken to meet these goals, including efforts to “amend the Proclamation on Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information to protect the rights to freedom of expression and press freedom” and “continue its reform measures to widen civic space and protect the right to freedom of expression, in particular through the revision of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation”.5 11. The Special Rapporteur’s official visit to Ethiopia may also be seen as an indicator of the seriousness of the reforms, especially as it was the first visit by a special procedure mandate holder of the Human Rights Council since 2006. The Special Rapporteur hopes that his visit will be the first of many such visits and engagements by his mandate and by other special procedures reporting to the Human Rights Council. He also appreciates the Government’s recent invitation to other special procedure mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. He urges Ethiopia to continue to engage with the Human Rights Council, including by extending a standing invitation to all special procedures. 12. Another important mechanism of accountability stems from the obligations of Ethiopia under multiple regional human rights mechanisms. Ethiopia acceded to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 1998, became a party to the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa in 2002, and ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in 2008. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights recently praised the State for “the lifting of the state of emergency, freeing political detainees, allowing exiled dissidents to return to the country, revising key laws such as the media and civil society laws, entering a historic peace deal with the State of Eritrea, and appointing women to key Government posts” (ACHPR/Res.429(LXV)2019). However, the Commission also expressed concern over the increased violence resulting from ethnic, religious and political tensions and the rising number of internally displaced persons and urged “all parties to engage in dialogue in order to bring about lasting peace and security in Ethiopia”.6 13. In keeping with the obligations of Ethiopia under human rights law, article 13 of the country’s Constitution establishes that fundamental rights and freedoms set forth in the Constitution must be interpreted in a manner that conforms with international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and any international instruments adopted by Ethiopia. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the strength of the country’s constitutional provisions guaranteeing a multitude of components necessary to guard freedom of expression. Notably, the right to hold opinions and to freedom of expression, without interference, is explicitly recognized in article 29 of the Constitution. The same article of the Constitution also guarantees freedom of the press, by prohibiting any form of censorship, recognizing the importance of access to information of public interest, and providing the press with legal protections to ensure its operational independence and its capacity to entertain diverse opinions. The Constitution also protects the right to privacy, the right to assembly, demonstration and petition, and the right to freedom of association. 4 5 6 A/HRC/42/14, paras. 163.58–163.59. Ibid., paras. 163.56 and 163.60. Available at www.achpr.org/sessions/resolutions?id=460. 5