about the government in international fora. Government officials told the CRM that their government did not want to ratify optional protocols that would subject it to complaints raised by individuals at international fora. 100. Although the Government of Ethiopia is yet to ratify important international conventions:- CMW, OP1-ICCPR; OP11-ICCPR; OP-CEDAW; OP-CAT; OP1CRC; OP11-CRC; the Ethiopian Constitution contains the international lawfriendly provision stipulating that all ratified international conventions can be invoked and applied in Ethiopian Courts. While interacting with members of the judiciary, the CRM was informed that their judicial officers can invoke international laws in application to domestic courts. 101. Though Ethiopia law is friendly to international law, Ethiopia has not fully implemented those conventions already ratified. Ethiopia is behind in its reporting obligations on major international human rights treaties. For instance, Ethiopia made its first reporting since ratification of the Convention against Torture, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural rights on 20 July 200917. However, Ethiopia has consistently reported on the international Convention on the Rights of the Child, despite financial constraints, lack of sufficient and qualified human resources, lack of coordination amongst implementing institutions, as well as the lack of awareness mentioned in the CSAR. 102. During interactions with stakeholders, the CRM heard that there was a low level or near total lack of awareness on the part of citizens about international standards and codes that have either been signed or ratified by the country. Knowledge of human rights instruments ratified by Ethiopia is low. Some stakeholders expressed ignorance about standards and codes, even those ratified by the Ethiopian Government. III. Recommendations 103. The APR recommends that Ethiopia: • Make efforts to ratify all outstanding international conventions, codes and standards; (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice) and, • Address challenges faced in failing to ratify these conventions. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Capacity Building) 17 http://www.unhchr.ch - 69 -