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Proclamation to Ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
on the Rights of Women in Africa Ratification Proclamation
INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES
The Government of Ethiopia has taken a number of measures to further strengthen the institutions
that play a central role in the protection and promotion of human rights. The creation of such
democratic institutions is regarded as indispensible to reinforce good governance. As a result there
are institutions established to cater the human rights of citizens.
1. The House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation
The FDRE Parliament is composed of two houses: the House of Peoples‟ Representatives, which is
the main legislative organ, and the House of Federation (HoF). These organs advance the rule of law
and are a true expression of the sovereignty of the people. As in the case of all federal States,
member states of the federation are empowered to establish a legislative organ called the State
Council in line with the FDRE Constitution. These organs are empowered to appoint the executive,
allocate budget and follow up on the implantation of plans. The Federal HoF is composed of all
officially recognized ethnic groups which should have one representative in the House. Members of
the HoF are elected by the State Councils in each regional state.
The HoF is vested with the power to interpret the constitution. It is also empowered to decide
upon issues related to the rights of states, to self-determination, including secession, to resolve
disputes between states, and determine the division of federal and state revenues and the level of
federal subsidies to the states. The House of Federation, in fact, has a central role in the human
rights system in Ethiopia, serving as a guarantor or protector of the rights of all the nations,
nationalities and peoples of the state.
2. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) is responsible for conducting free and fair
elections in Federal and State constituencies. Since its establishment in 1994, the NEBE has
conducted four national elections, as well as a series of by-elections, local elections and referenda.
Elections have been conducted to elect members of the House of People's Representatives and to
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