National Safety Mechanisms - Ethiopia
National Safety Context
According to the Observatory of Killed Journalists, there have been 2 killings recorded in Ethiopia since 1993. None of these cases have been judicially resolved, according to the latest Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity. Ethiopia has responded 1 time to the Director-General's request for information on the judicial status of the cases of these killed journalists since 2022.
There is 1 national safety mechanism being implemented in Ethiopia to prevent crimes against journalists. More information on this initiative is summarised below including relevant links.
Ethiopian Media Sector Alliance
The Ethiopian Media Sector Alliance was established in 2019 and addresses the safety of journalists and media workers.
What activities are carried out? / How are they implemented?
The Ethiopian Media Sector Alliance (EMSA) is a multi-stakeholder coordination platform which facilitates joint media development initiatives to address online and offline challenges to media professionals. The coordination platform is also aimed at facilitating a vibrant media sector in order to contribute to development priorities and peace building agendas.
The Alliance supports joint work plans for coordinating, monitoring and synergizing the capacities of stakeholders into working groups. There are four thematic working groups co-chaired by both national and international partners:
Freedom of expression, press freedom, access to information, journalists’ safety and welfare of journalists (co-chairs: Ethiopia Media Council and UNESCO).
Legislative and policy reforms (co-chairs are MERSA and UNOHCHR).
Human and technical capacity building of journalists, journalists' associations & networks, media houses and journalism training institutions (co-chairs are Addis Ababa University and International Media Support).
Media and information literacy (co-chairs are Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organisation and UNESCO).
Who are the stakeholders?
The main implementing authority of the Alliance are a roundtable of civil society organisations., in collaboration with media companies and with UN institutions. For the coordination and co-chairing of the Alliance: it consists of 2 conveners (1 National and 1 International, currently the Ethiopia Media Council and UNESCO), 3 co-chairs (2 National and 1 International (on a rotational basis every two 2 years).
The members are elected for the first two years and are as follows: co-chairs are (i) Ethiopia Media Authority (EMA), (ii) Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organisation (CEHRO) and (iii) the International Media Support.
For more specific information on the national safety mechanism in Ethiopia and those in other countries please follow the links.
