Date of publication:
01/08/2026
Ethiopia
Do domestic laws and policies protect forcibly displaced and stateless persons from harm and discrimination on the basis of their ethnic, religious, political, sexual or gender identity or orientation?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Domestic laws and policies demonstrate a mixed approach regarding the prevention, mitigation, and addressing of violence, abuse, or exploitation concerning various minority groups.
As per article 89(4) of the Constitution, the Government is mandated to provide special assistance to nations, nationalities, and peoples that are least advantaged in economic and social development. This provision indicates a commitment to addressing the needs of ethnic minorities by providing targeted support to alleviate economic and social disparities. Furthermore, article 25 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law for all individuals and prohibits discrimination based on gender. This provision extends general protection to religious minorities by ensuring their equal treatment under the law, regardless of their religious affiliation.
In summary, while Ethiopian domestic laws and policies offer special protection to ethnic minorities and general protection to religious minorities through constitutional provisions promoting equality, there is a stark absence of legal protection for sexual minorities. The criminalization of same-sex sexual activity exacerbates the vulnerability of sexual minorities to violence, abuse, and exploitation, highlighting significant gaps in addressing the rights and well-being of this marginalized group.
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 89 - Economic Objectives
1. Government shall have the duty to formulate policies which ensure that all Ethiopians can benefit from the country's legacy of intellectual and material resources. 2. Government has the duty to ensure that all Ethiopians get equal opportunity to improve their economic conditions and to promote equitable distribution of wealth among them. 3. Government shall take measures to avert any natural and man-made disasters, and, in the event of disasters, to provide timely assistance to the victims. 4. Government shall provide special assistance to Nations, Nationalities, and People least advantaged in economic and social development. 5. Government has the duty to hold, on behalf of the People, land and other natural resources and to deploy them for their common benefit and development. 6. Government shall at all times promote the participation of the People in the formulation of national development policies and programmes; it shall also have the duty to support the initiatives of the People in their development endeavours. 7. Government shall ensure the participation of women in equality with men in all economic and social development endeavours. 8. Government shall endeavour to protect and promote the health, welfare and living standards of the working population of the country.
Article 25 - Equality before the law
All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection without discrimination on grounds of race, nation, nationality, or other social origin, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, property, birth or other status.