ADDIS ABABA (Halbeeg News)-The government of Ethiopia has allowed the staff from Human Rights Watch to operate in the country thanks to the reform implemented by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, the organisation confirmed.
Human Rights Watch said its staffs who cover Ethiopia were permitted to visit the country.
In an interview with the agency, Amy Braunschweiger, a senior researcher Felix Horne said Ethiopia had changed so much thanks to the reforms materialized by the Ethiopian government.
“Unlike before, modern asphalt roads are everywhere; there are freeways, tall, modern shiny buildings, lots of new restaurants, and a light rail system. It used to smell of smoke, from people burning wood to prepare food, but that smell is now gone. People seemed to feel much more free to express their opinions. They were speaking very openly about sensitive subjects in public spaces, cafes, and minibusses. That’s not the Addis I knew, where everyone was looking over their shoulder to see who was eavesdropping,” he said.
According to Braunschweiger, under the 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation, civil society groups working on human rights issues in Ethiopia was decimated.
“Most nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) were closed. Others had their bank accounts frozen. But a new law was passed earlier this month. It eliminates most of the draconian restrictions from previous legislation. The new agency registering NGOs needs to get up and, and that will take time, but we hope NGOs will be able to register soon, which will open up possibilities for funding. Then they can document abuses and advocate for respect for human rights, which is critical ahead of the May 2020 elections,” the senior researcher stated.
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