Reforming Legal Sector Contributes Foster Democratization, Development, Experts

Addis Ababa October 24/2018 Reforming the legal sector would facilitate the way to foster inclusive democratization and development in Ethiopia, according to Legal experts. The scholars said that the legal reformation which is being conducted in Ethiopia is timely and creates a conducive environment for the efforts started to improve democratization and development. Dr. Abera Deggefa, Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at Addis Ababa University told ENA that the reformation of the laws can help to realize democracy and development that everyone can enjoy it. According to him, democratization and development cannot be realized unless favorable legal system is put in place. Expressing the advantage of reforming the sector he said, “For example if we take the area of politics, you have to allow the people to express their views if the existing laws are silencing people or if people are don’t airing their views in ongoing development you cannot bring democracy or development” According to Dr. Abera, reforming the legal sector with the view of the public will remove the shortcomings of some laws and proclamations and improve democratization process. Dr. Tesfaye Abate, Dean of School of Law and Federalism at Civil Service University said that the country is entered in a time of all rounded change and that change needs political reform in all aspects. Meanwhile, the government in this stage needs to highly listen to the opinion of the people and include their views in the process of the reformation. He cited the anti-terrorism proclamation adopted in 2009, as a controversial proclamation and many are criticizing it has criminalized dissent and limitation on ensuring human rights. “I recommend the government to listen to the people and gather any kind of idea, take the good ones to establish strong and public participatory legal reform”, Dr. Tesfaye said. Petros Weldesenbet, Legal, Justice and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee Chairperson at the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR), said the government is conducting reforms on the legal sector which requires the direct involvement and participation of the public. A monitoring body comprised of different social groups such as competing political parties, scholars and concerned stakeholder has established by the House in order to ascertain the progress of the ongoing legal reform, he added. “The established monitoring body will identify public interest as it is critical to open up opportunity for the public and ensure their say is included as necessary inputs for  the legal reform”, Petros noted. Moreover, a new portal has recently been inaugurated and introduced to gather essential recommendation of the public about the legal reform. The chairperson added that preparation is finalized to conduct consultative platforms across the country to maintain public participation on the legal reforms. “We are planning various tasks with regard to the legal sector reform, of which some of the laws had been creating confusion among the public.  These laws will   either be amended or removed, mainly through ensuring public participation, political parties and concerned stakeholder,” Petros pointed out. Speaking at the joint opening session of the legislative on October 8, 2018, President Mulatu Teshome stressed on the imperative of expanding the democratization process, accelerate reforms the legal sector in this Ethiopian fiscal year. He said that the country will consolidate its ongoing reforms towards widening the political space.