National Workshop Held to Shape Ethiopia’s Transitional Justice Policy Implementation

Participants engaged in reflections on practical experiences, small group discussions, and presentations to advocate for gender justice in policy implementation.

A two-day national workshop focused on integrating civil society organizations into the implementation of Ethiopia’s Transitional Justice (TJ) policy took place from June 20 to 21, 2024, in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia. The event brought together women leaders from NGOs, civil society organizations, and grassroots community groups from various regions to evaluate and enhance the gender sensitivity of the newly adopted TJ policy.

The workshop aimed to assess the TJ policy's gender sensitivity, identify opportunities and gaps, and collaboratively strategize to ensure women's participation and gender considerations during the policy's implementation phases. Discussions were centered on raising awareness about the TJ policy, the roles of civil society organizations (CSOs), and evaluating the policy from gender and conflict survivors' perspectives according to international standards.

Participants engaged in reflections on practical experiences, small group discussions, and presentations to advocate for gender justice in policy implementation. The workshop concluded with the formation of a women's working group, setting out its mission, vision, goals, and objectives to channel a unified voice for sustainable peace.

Ms. Ergeba Abraha, a board member of "Mums for Mums" in Tigray, highlighted the importance of including women's voices in the Transitional Justice process for lasting peace. She stressed the need for government awareness and engagement to make the policy effective and expressed her commitment to disseminating the workshop insights in her role as Chairwoman of the Women Affairs Bureau in Mekelle town.

Ms. Mahlet Tilahun, Director of "Sustainable Women Empowerment" in Bahir Dar, noted the workshop's timely relevance amid ongoing internal conflicts. She praised the newly established women’s consortium as a vital channel for communicating the impact of conflicts on women and communities.

Ms. Workinesh Begi, Executive Director of "Tarkanfi Sustainable Development" in Bishoftu, commended the workshop's focus on justice and accountability. She expressed gratitude to UN Women for their support and emphasized the need for continued advocacy to include women, youth, and other community members in peacebuilding efforts using the TJ policy.

The workshop followed a mid-2023 high-level national consultation organized by UN Women Ethiopia, the Ministry of Justice, the TJ Working Group of Experts, and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, aimed at ensuring women's meaningful involvement in developing and implementing the gender-sensitive TJ policy. The recent workshop was supported by the Government of Germany and sought to enhance the policy's effectiveness by empowering women leaders in the transitional justice process.