Enhancing Human Rights Education and Expertise in Ethiopia
In collaboration with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), we are implementing a project to enhance the Commission’s capacity through tailored online and blended learning courses designed for EHRC staff, civil society organisations (CSOs), and youth. This project seeks to strengthen human rights knowledge and widen access to resources in the field, empowering key actors and creating a more informed, rights-aware society.
How are we doing it?
This project consists of three main components:
1. Tailored Human Rights Training and Capacity Building
To improve detention monitoring practices, we are collaborating with EHRC to provide specialized training in human rights for its staff and CSOs, focusing on detention monitoring by developing standardized training packages in the field and a blended learning course. These efforts will equip EHRC staff with the tools to effectively monitor detention facilities while also increasing their capacity to develop their own courses and training programs in the future.
2. Human Rights Course
The project also introduces and pilots an online learning course mainly directed at youth and youth-focused CSOs. Based on an existing human rights training manual developed by EHRC, this course will strengthen young people’s knowledge of human rights and equip them with the necessary tools to become strong agents of change, while building experience for the Commission to engage with the youth on human rights education.
3. Human Rights Resource Centre
A key component of the project is the establishment of a Human Rights Resource Centre, with both an on-site facility and a comprehensive online platform. This centre will be designed to provide easy access to a wide range of human rights materials for students, practitioners, legal professionals, and the public, supporting the learning and advocacy efforts in Ethiopia.
Our expected outcomes:
- A reduction in human rights abuses related to detention practices: A strengthened EHRC will have an increased ability to hold various actors accountable.
- An empowered civil society: CSOs will play an active role in monitoring, reporting, and advocating for respect and protection of human rights.
- An informed and engaged youth: Young people will be more actively involved in human rights advocacy and education, contributing to a more rights-aware society.
- An informed public: Thanks to the availability and accessibility of human rights resources through the new centre, the public will have greater opportunities to engage with human rights issues.
The cumulative effects of the project are expected to lead to increased advocacy and accountability efforts that seek to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia. Financial support to the project is provided by the Swedish Institute.
Ethiopia Programme Staff
Rakel Larsen
Rakel Larsen joined RWI in November 2020 as the Director of the Nairobi Office. She brings more than 15 years of work experience in refugee protection, displacement and human rights mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining the RWI, she worked for the Danish Refugee Council with humanitarian response and protection of refugees and other displaced persons in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.
Furthermore, she holds a Master’s in Law and a Master’s in African Studies (Human Rights and Development) from the University of Copenhagen.
Tsion Hagos
Gilford Kimathi
Gilford Kimathi is a Programme Officer at the Nairobi Office supporting the Regional Africa and Ethiopia programmes. He brings a decade of experience in programme management, where he has also contributed to research and human rights capacity development. Before joining RWI, Gilford worked five years with the Network for African National Human Rights Institutions, through which he has gained extensive experience with African human rights mechanisms and frameworks.
Mumbi Maina-Murimi
