A discussion on the African Commission's decision in Robert  F. Kennedy Human Rights & IHRDA v Ethiopia (Communication 599/16)

The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Kennedy Human Rights Center and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), invites you to a webinar examining the decision of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on violations of the right to vote and civic space rights in Ethiopia’s 2015 general elections, under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The discussion will be framed in light of Ethiopia’s forthcoming general election on 1 June 2026, with a focus on whether, and to what extent, the respondent state has addressed the violations identified by the Commission and complied with its recommendations.

Event details

Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Time: 15:00 to 17:00   SAST
Platform All participants must register on Zoom 

Register on Zoom Download Concept Note

Background

During its 77th Ordinary Session, held from 19 October to 9 November 2023, the African Commission delivered a landmark decision in the case of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Institute for Human Rights in Africa (IHRDA) v The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Communication 599/16). The case addressed the conduct of Ethiopia’s 2015 general elections, with particular focus on restrictions on civic space before and during that electoral process.  

The Commission found that Ethiopia violated several rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, as well as the right to participate in government. It held that the use of repressive laws alongside intimidation and violence against journalists, opposition figures, and peaceful protesters undermined the integrity of the electoral process. These violations were found to be inconsistent with Articles 1, 9, 10, 11, and 13(1) of the African Charter.

Importantly, the decision affirms that restrictions on civic space directly impair the effective exercise of the right to vote. The Commission recommended that Ethiopia undertake legal and institutional reforms and report, within 180 days, on the steps taken to comply with its recommendations.

As Ethiopia approaches the 2026 elections, this decision provides a critical framework for assessing progress. Recent reports from civil society organisations and media continue to raise concerns about internet shutdowns, restrictions on civil society activities, and limitations on dissenting expressions in the country. Additionally, ongoing armed conflicts in certain regions, as well as political and ethnic polarisation, present further challenges to an inclusive and credible electoral process.

This webinar will therefore examine whether Ethiopia has made meaningful progress in addressing the violations identified by the Commission and what the current conditions mean for the credibility, inclusiveness, and participatory nature of the forthcoming elections.  

The CHR is organising this webinar with its partners as part of its ongoing project on access to information and elections in Africa, in support of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.

Objectives

This webinar aims to:

• Discuss the findings of the Commission in relation to Ethiopia’s 2015 general elections, and their implications for civic space and electoral rights.
• Assess the measures Ethiopia has taken since the decision to comply with the Commission’s recommendations, particularly those aimed at addressing the violations identified in the 2015 elections.
• Examine current civic space conditions in the period immediately preceding the 1 June 2026 election, and consider whether they reflect improvement, stagnation, or regression when compared to the situation during the 2015 elections.
• Analyse the implications of reported restrictions, including on digital space and civil society activity, for the conduct of a free, fair, and participatory election.
• Discuss how armed conflicts in some regions, as well as political and ethnic polarisation, may affect civic space, voter participation, public debate, and the overall integrity of the 1 June 2026 election.
• Reflect on the broader relevance of the decision for strengthening electoral integrity and rights protection across African Union member states.

Target audience

The webinar is intended for:

• Civil society organisations and human rights defenders
• Legal practitioners and academics
• Election observers and governance experts
• Policymakers and representatives of regional bodies
• Students and researchers in human rights and electoral governance.

Expected outcomes

• Increased awareness of the African Commission’s decision and its implications for electoral rights
• Enhanced dialogue among stakeholders on civic space and democratic participation in Ethiopia
• Identification of key advocacy and policy priorities ahead of the 2026 elections
• Strengthened understanding of the role of regional human rights mechanisms in electoral processes.

Programme

For more information, please contact:

Henok Ashagrey
Project Officer: Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit
Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
henok.kremte@up.ac.za 

Maria Saine
Advocacy Officer,  Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)
msaine@ihrda.org 

Ezihe Chikwer
Program Associate
Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
chikwere@kennedyhumanrights.org