Daniel Bekele, a renowned human rights advocate has been elected as head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, EHRC, a state-run body responsible for principally ensuring respect for rights and fundamental freedoms. Prior to his new role, he worked with Amnesty International and then Human Rights Watch, HRW, two rights groups that have done extensive work on the human rights situation in Ethiopia over the last few years. Abiy’s breakneck reforms on the human rights front has seen the release of political prisoners and dissidents. There are reforms within the security and prisons system with officials accused of rights abuses arrested and currently facing trial. Rights groups have also stressed the need to get a grip on security which they say is a potent threat to reforms.

Source: Ethiopian News July 02, 2019 14:26 UTC