Addis Ababa, April 22/2023, Ethio Negari:- After the 2008 amendment of the civil society law, many organizations have started to work, but the country’s insecurity was the main obstacle to excute their projects.
Council of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations has stated that 36 civil society organization workers have been killed since 2019.
The director general of the council, Henok Melese, said that it has become difficult to work in different parts of the country.
The council, which has more than four thousand organizations as members are working and making sacrifices till death.
The director general cited the example of Catholic Relief workers who were killed recently.
He stated that, 36 civil society workers have been killed in the last five years.
Describing the situation as “very serious,” Mr Henok added that, civil society workers needed “special protection”.
“Workers who work far from their homes, putting themselves in danger, need more support, they need to be protected and we call for things to stop”, he said.
The head of the Council of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations, who are raising the law reform four years ago, added that, there is a gap in creating a comfortable work environment in Ethiopia.
Mr Henok said that, “In various ways, the work done by civil society organizations has obstacles. Work must be done to overcome them. But it is a process. Especially when a country is in trouble, lack of peace, when there is disruption of activity, their work is greatly limited.”
He also stated that there is a wrong view of the work, role and appearance of civil society organizations in Ethiopia, even by government officials.
Henok replied that he also mentioned that there is a stereotyped attitude towards wealth generation, especially in the community.
However, the organizations should be strengthened and contribute to global change, he added.
