TJ Working Group unveils findings, recommendations from public consultations

Addis Ababa, December 29, 2023 (FBC) – The Transitional Justice Working Group of Experts announced the findings from the participants on different policy and institutional options for Transitional Justice Policy in Ethiopia.

The TJ Working Group of Experts (the Working Group) set up by the Ministry of Justice to advise and lead the process of Ethiopia’s TJ policy development published a “green paper” in January 2023 to solicit public inputs from relevant stakeholders on different policy and institutional options for TJ in Ethiopia. In March 2023, the Government of Ethiopia launched nationwide public consultations on the content of the “green paper” led by the Working Group. The Working Group’s public consultations are expected to inform the initial phase of the TJ policy development work, and implementation of the TJ process will only start after the policy is adopted.

In a media briefing on the progress made so far to design a comprehensive policy on TJ earlier today, the Working Group reminded that a 13-member expert group has been formed for the preparation of the Transitional Justice Policy.

It was highlighted that since its inception, the Working Group has successfully gathered public input through an extensive series of over 80 consultations, engaging individuals from diverse backgrounds across the entire nation.

The consultations have yielded a resounding response from society, underscoring the significance of the transitional justice policy. The findings derived from the public input gathering process have revealed a strong consensus regarding the necessity for a prosecution mechanism to address human rights abuses and violations. Furthermore, the insights gathered from a select group of participants suggest that all individuals involved in such offenses should be held accountable in accordance with their respective levels of culpability.

It is said that there were findings indicating that reconciliation and forgiveness should be part of a newly established fact-finding body.

The findings further emphasized that priority should be given to compensating individuals who have endured severe human rights violations, individuals who have faced psychological and emotional distress, victims of physical injuries and sexual violence, displaced persons, as well as those who have lost their families and other similarly affected segments of society in the implementation phase of the transitional justice policy.

It is said that a consensus has been reached with the recommendations of the participants and experts to include the violations committed since 1995 in the transitional justice policy.

It was also pointed out that the roles of regions and city administrations in the implementation process should be clearly defined.

It is to be remembered that the transitional justice policy is being prepared to achieve lasting peace and justice by overcoming past human rights violations, abuses and injustices with truth, justice and reconciliation.