Date of publication:
08/21/2025
Ethiopia
Do domestic laws and policies provide mechanisms to identify unaccompanied and separated children?
Assessment by population
Analysis
According to article 36(1)(c) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution, every child has the right to know and be cared for by their parents or legal guardians. Additionally, the national child policy of Ethiopia provides that for children found in difficult situations, returnee children, and unaccompanied children, as well as separated children, reunite with their family and community. The policy advocates for designing and implementing frameworks to ensure the civil and social rights of children living in refugee camps in Ethiopia. Family tracing is a crucial aspect of reuniting separated or unaccompanied children with their families, and the mention of advocating for the designing and implementation of frameworks suggests that there are efforts to address this issue within the national child policy.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE)
- Year: 1995
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/18206
Legal provision
Article 36 - Rights of children
1. Every child has the right: (A) To life; (B) To a name and nationality; (C) To know and be cared for by his or her parents or legal guardians; (D) Not to be subject to exploitative practices, neither to be required nor permitted to perform work which may be hazardous or harmful to his or her education, health or well-being; (E) To be free of corporal punishment or cruel and inhumane treatment in schools and other institutions responsible for the care of children. 2. In all actions concerning children undertaken by public and private welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the primary consideration shall be the best interests of the child. 3. Juvenile offenders admitted to corrective or rehabilitative institutions, and juveniles who become wards of the State or who are placed in public or private orphanages, shall be kept separately from adults. 4. Children born out of wedlock shall have the same rights as children born of wedlock. 5. The State shall accord special protection to orphans and shall encourage the establishment of institutions which ensure and promote their adoption and advance their welfare, and education.
National Children’s Policy, Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MoWCYA)
- Year: 2017
- Type: Domestic policy
- Rights Category: Family life
Legal provision
Article 3.6(G) - Children in difficult situation
Advocating for the designing and implementation of frameworks to ensure the civil and social rights of children living in refugee’s camps of the country due to reasons of forced migration