Date of publication:

01/09/2026

Ethiopia

Do domestic laws and policies provide forcibly displaced and stateless persons who face violations of their right to social protection with access to effective administrative or judicial remedies?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Assessment by population
Refugees
Asylum-seekers
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 could exercise this right to bring a legal action regarding rights associated with social insurance. 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.