Date of publication:
01/07/2026
Ethiopia
Do domestic laws and policies provide forcibly displaced and stateless persons with access to administrative or judicial remedies when they are denied the registration of vital events or the recognition, issuance, or replacement of civil, identity and tr
Assessment by population
Analysis
Access to justice is recognized as a fundamental right in the Ethiopian Constitution. Pursuant to Article 37(1) of the Constitution, everyone, including refugees, have the right to bring a justiciable matter to a court of law or any other competent body with judicial power. Further, the Refugees Proclamation, under article 30(1), states that refugees are entitled to the same treatment as nationals with regard to bringing any justiciable matter to the court or any other competent body with judicial power. Refugees are also entitled to seek administrative remedies in case of denial of services by RRS as per article 5(1) of the Refugees and Returnees Grievances and Appeals Handling Directive, Directive No. 03/2019. The Refugees also may lodge a complaint to the institution of the ombudsman for maladministration in case of denial of access to such services by RRS or ICS as per Articles 22(1) and 24 of the Institution of the Ombudsman Proclamation No.211/2000. Therefore, refugees could exercise this right to bring a legal action if they are denied the recognition and recording of vital events.
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 37(1) Right of Access to Justice
Everyone has the right to bring a justiciable matter to, and to obtain a decision or judgment by, a court of law or any other competent body with judicial power.
Directive to Handle Grievances from Refugees and Returnees, Directive No 03/2019, RRS
- Year: 2019
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Nationality & facilitated naturalization
Legal provision
Article 2(12)
Grievance and appeals body means a unit or panel established or assigned within every department of the Agency to implement the grievances and appeals procedure put in place by the Agency and resolve issues faced by refugees.
Article 5(1)
Any client/refugee shall have the right to complain to the concerned official or higher official concerning any issues he has encountered because of a service rendered by the Agency not being properly provided to him.