Revitalizing the Role of Non-Governmental Human Rights Organizations in Ethiopia

Abstract

In the year 2009, Ethiopia introduced Charities and Societies
Proclamation, a law that regulates the activities of non-governmental
human rights organizations among others. This law announced the birth
of a new era in the operation of non-governmental human rights
organizations. Due to the long established culture of foreign fund
dependency, poor culture of philanthropy, fear and lack of confidence
resulting from this unprecedented change in the operating environment,
carrying out in line with the law has been overwhelming. Thus, most nongovernmental
human rights organizations have been forced to take drastic
measures to survive. Those that continued advocating for human rights
have been forced to downsize or cut their programmes, operating areas and
employees. Others that are passionate to contribute in the promotion and
protection of human rights have been discouraged. As a result, the
contributions of national non-governmental human rights organizations
have reduced significantly. This article provides ways to revitalize the role
of these non-governmental human rights organizations in Ethiopia within
the bounds of the law.