School of Graduate Studies Department of Political Science and International Relations
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SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THE PRACTICE OF UPHOLDING CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA AND BOTSWANA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS BY ALEMU ARAGE JULY, 2020 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THE PRACTICE OF UPHOLDING CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA AND BOTSWANA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS BY ALEMU ARAGE ADVISOR KASSAHUN BIRHANU (PROFESSOR) A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY JULY, 2020 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Declaration I hereby declare that the thesis entitled: The Practice of Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Ethiopia and Botswana: A Comparative Analysis, submitted to award of the Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy at Addis Ababa University, is my original research work that has not been presented anywhere for any degree. To the best of the researcher„s knowledge, all sources of material used for the thesis have been fully acknowledged. Name: Alemu Arage Signature: ______________ Date: July, 2020 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THE PRACTICE OF UPHOLDING CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA AND BOTSWANA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS BY ALEMU ARAGE APPROVED BY BOARD OF EXAMINERS __________________________ ____________ __________ ADVISOR SIGNATURE DATE __________________________ _______________ ____________ EXAMINER SIGNATURE DATE __________________________ _______________ ____________ EXAMINER SIGNATURE DATE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and for most, my deepest gratitude belongs to my advisor Professor Kassahun Birhanu whose valuable comments and support that he gave me to complete this research thesis. This thesis is completed because of the full support of my advisor! Secondly, credit goes to my older brother (Shambel Arage) who lost his life before two weeks for his all over vision, support and guidance in my life journey. Finally, the brotherhood assistance of my friends (Dejen Yemane, Dagnachew Terefe, and others) contribute to the completion of this thesis i TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Pages ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ ii ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Core Argument ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Objective of the Study ........................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Research Methodology and Methods .................................................................................... 8 1.6.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 8 1.6.2 Methods of Data Collection ............................................................................................ 8 1.7 Scope of the Study................................................................................................................. 9 1.8 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Limitation of the Study ....................................................................................................... 10 1.10 Organization of the Paper .................................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 11 THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................... 11 2.1. Conceptual and Theoretical Understandings of Human Rights ......................................... 11 2.1.1. The Debate over Understanding and Implementing Human Rights: Universalist versus Relativist Approaches ................................................................................................. 16 2.1.2. Historical Development of International Human Rights Law ..................................... 19 2.1.3. Regional Human Rights System .................................................................................. 22 ii 2.2. Review of Literature........................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 31 THE PRACTICE OF UPHOLDING CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA AND BOTSWANA ................................................................................................................................ 31 3.1. Upholding Civil and Political Rights in the „Democratic Developmental State?‟ of Ethiopia .............................................................................................................................. 31 3.1.1. The Role of National Institutions in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Ethiopia ....................................................................................................................... 47 3.1.2. The Role of Civil Society in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Ethiopia .......... 51 3.1.3. The Role of the Governing Party in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Ethiopia ....................................................................................................................... 54 3.2. The Practice of Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Botswana ................................... 62 3.2.1. The Role of National Institutions in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Botswana ..................................................................................................................... 80 3.2.2. The Role of Civil Societies in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Botswana ..... 83 3.2.3. The Role of the Governing Party in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Botswana ..................................................................................................................... 86 CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 90 THE CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF ETHIOPIA AND BOTSWANA IN UPHOLDING CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ..................................................................... 90 4.1. Challenges in Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Ethiopia ........................................ 90 4.2. Challenges against Upholding Civil and Political Rights in Botswana ............................. 93 CONCLUDING REMARKS ........................................................................................................ 96 REFFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 101 APPENDIX I ................................................................................................................................... I APPENDIX II ................................................................................................................................. II iii ACRONYMS APAP Action Professional‟s Association for People BDP Botswana Democratic Party BMD Botswana Movement for Democracy BNF Botswana National Front BOPA Botswana Press Agency BTI Bertelsmann Stiftung‟s Transformation Index CSO Civil Society Organizations CUD Coalition for Unity and Democracy EHRC Ethiopian Human Rights Commission EHRCO Ethiopian Human Rights Council EIO Ethiopian Institute of Ombudsman EMB Election Management Body EPRDF Ethiopian People‟s Revolutionary Democratic Front EWALA Ethiopian Women‟s Lawyer‟s Association FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia GTP Growth and Transformation Plan HRW Human Rights Watch IBI International Bill of Rights ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights IEC Independent Electoral Commission NEBE National Electoral Board of Ethiopia NGO s Non- Governmental Organization iv NHRI National Human Rights Institution OLF Oromo Liberation Front OSJ Organization for Social Justice TPLF Tigray People Liberation