- Ethiopia: Draft Law Threatens Civil Society

Ethiopia: Draft Law Threatens Civil Society

Human Rights Watch - October 13, 2008

Ethiopia's parliament should reject a draft law that would criminalize human rights activity and seriously undermine civil society groups, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on donor governments to speak out publicly against the bill, which is expected to be introduced in parliament this month.

The Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law) would provide the government a potent tool to intimidate and weaken Ethiopia's long beleaguered civil society. Although the bill has been revised twice since May 2008, the current version retains many of the most alarming provisions.

"The only reason to have such a repressive law is if it would be used to strangle Ethiopia's few remaining independent voices," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Donor governments should make clear to Ethiopia that enacting this law will threaten future funding." Read More.