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The
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) expresses grave
concern over a newly proposed proclamation that, if passed, would
significantly restrict the independence, operations, and survival of
civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ethiopia. This draft legislation
represents a major step backwards for civic space in the country,
undermining the rights to freedom of association, expression, and access
to justice.
Paris - Geneva, 2 July 2025 –
The Ethiopian Authority for Civil Society Organisations (ACSO) has
reportedly drafted a new proclamation that would dramatically tighten
state control over the work and funding of CSOs. The proposed amendments
grant sweeping powers to the Ministry of Justice and ACSO to intervene
in the internal affairs of independent organisations, impose heavy
administrative burdens, and arbitrarily restrict access to
funding—particularly for groups engaged in democratic advocacy or
election-related work.
Under the draft:
- The governance of CSOs will fall under
direct state control, with 5 of 7 board members appointed by the
Ministry of Justice, including the chairperson.
- The Ministry
will have the power to suspend or dissolve organisations deemed a
“threat to national security,” without clear definitions or independent
judicial oversight.
- International and diaspora funding for
local CSOs working on political advocacy, voter education, or election
observation will be banned, cutting off critical support for democratic
engagement.
- Administrative sanctions—ranging from suspension to
license revocation—can be imposed for vague or minor infractions,
including failure to update the authority on office address changes or
delays in financial reporting.
- CSOs will be required to report all funding within 15 days, obtain
pre-approval to open bank accounts, and may have their bank accounts
frozen during investigations.
- Judicial appeals are eliminated,
with the ACSO board serving as the final authority, undermining the
right to a fair and independent review process.
These provisions, if enacted, would amount to a de facto
criminalisation of independent civil society in Ethiopia. The space for
public interest organisations, especially those working on human rights,
democracy, and governance, would be further narrowed, and dissenting
voices effectively silenced.
This proposed legislation comes against the backdrop of a broader and deepening crackdown
on civic space in Ethiopia. In 2024 alone, over 1,500 organisations
were reportedly shut down for administrative non-compliance, often
linked to resource constraints and systemic barriers rather than
deliberate wrongdoing. Many of these organisations were small,
community-based, and underfunded, already struggling to meet reporting
obligations under the previous legal framework.
The Observatory strongly condemns this legislative regression and urges the Ethiopian authorities to:
- Immediately halt the adoption of the proposed proclamation and engage in inclusive consultations with civil society actors.
- Guarantee
the independence and freedom of operation of CSOs, in line with
Ethiopia’s obligations under its Constitution and international human
rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- Ensure access to independent judicial review for any punitive measures taken against CSOs.
The Observatory also calls on Ethiopia’s international and regional partners to:
- Engage the Ethiopian authorities in urgent diplomatic dialogue to reject the proposed restrictions and support civic space.
- Publicly denounce the escalating repression of civil society and advocate for protection mechanisms for human rights defenders.
- Provide technical and financial assistance to Ethiopian CSOs working under threat, including flexible funding and emergency support.
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