PREPARATORY PROCESS OF THE PERIODIC REPORT This submission contains Ethiopia‟s Fifth and Sixth Periodic Reports to the ACHPR as prescribed under Article 62 of the African Charter. The Report provides basic information about Ethiopia; it describes the progress made thus far in terms of the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and underlines the challenges and measures required for further action. For the preparation of this report, the Government established a National Human Rights Steering Committee, composed of senior officials from six relevant Ministries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Federal Affairs, Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ministry of Communication Affairs and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. The National Committee created a drafting team which undertook the task of preparing the draft report under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Government also conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders to obtain information on the progress made in the implementation of the African Charter since the last report period. Relevant information was gathered and observations and suggestions solicited as inputs for the preparation of this report from both private and public institutions. The National Committee organized a one-day consultative workshop where participants drawn from governmental organs, civil societies and partners discussed on a first draft and provided comments and inputs on the draft. The workshop offered all stakeholders from the private and public sectors, as well as representatives from different civil society associations and media groups, the opportunity to contribute to the process. Their suggestions and recommendations have been incorporated into the report. A validation workshop was arranged inviting all stakeholders including members of the media to consider the first draft. The suggestions and recommendations made therein were taken into account in developing the final report. This combined report constitutes the consolidated report of the two periodic reports that have been due since 2010. It is based on the Guidelines for National Periodic Reports under the African Charter adopted in 1989 and Supplementary Guidelines issued in 1998 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples‟ Rights, and presents the various legislative and other measures taken towards the realization of the fundamental human and peoples‟ rights and freedoms incorporated in the Charter. 12