UNODC Ethiopia Annual Progress Report 2020
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2020 Annual Progress Report • 1 Contents Contents 2 Abbreviations 3 1. Summary and Context of the Action 4 1.1. Project Objective 4 1.2. Contextual Analysis 4 1.3. Key Partners 6 1.4. Results Snapshot: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning 6 2. Summary of Achievements 7 3. Results achieved and activities undertaken 9 3.1. Criminal Justice and Integrity 10 3.2. Transnational Organised Crime 23 3.3. Transformation, Peace and Security 26 3.4. Violence against Women and Children 28 3.5. Youth Engagement 30 3.6. Certificates of Achievement 31 3.7. From crisis to recovery: UNODC Ethiopia joins the global Jerusalema Challenge 32 3.8. Donor Outreach 33 4. Challenges and Opportunities 33 5. Meet the Team 34 6. Acknowledgements 38 7. Donor Information 39 Annexes Annex 1: Programme Results 40 Annex 2: Unofficial Data Released Prisoners as part of COVID response 47 Annex 3: 2021 Training Schedule 49 2 • 2020 Annual Progress Report Abbreviations AACRRC Addis Ababa Children’s Rehabilitation and Remand Center BMM Better Migration Management FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia FOAG Federal Office of the Attorney General GBV Gender Based Violence GIZ Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit ICTS Information and Communications Technology Systems IEC Information, Education and Communication IOM International Organisation for Migration MOP Ministry of Peace OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ROEA Regional Office for Eastern Africa SoM Smuggling of Migrants TiP Trafficking in Persons UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNWomen United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women VAWG Violence Against Women and Girls VAC Violence Against Children VAWC Violence Against Women and Children 2020 Annual Progress Report • 3 1. Summary and Context of the Action This Annual Progress Report covers the period January to December 2020 and highlights the progress made against planned activities implementedby the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme Office in Ethiopia. 1.1. Project Objective UNODC has worked with an increasing presence in Ethiopia since 1995. The nature and scope of UNODC’s engagement continues to be guided by its mandates as well as the strategic policies and priorities of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). In addition, the Government of Ethiopia has contributed to the development and endorsement of the UNODC Regional Programme for Eastern Africa ‘Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security (2016-2021)’ together with twelve Member States in the Eastern Africa region. The Regional Programme aims to strengthen regional integrated responses and building integrated national programmes under the following five pillars: • Countering Transnational Organized Crime and Trafficking; • Countering Corruption; • Terrorism Prevention; • Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; and • Prevention of Drug Use, Treatment and Care of Drug Use Disorders and HIV as well as AIDS Prevention and Care. The UNODC Programme Office in Ethiopiais an extension of the work at the regional level and is designed to meet the specific needs of the FDRE. Over the years, UNODC’s support to Ethiopia has increased incrementally with the introduction of new projects to enhance systems in the areas of transnational organised crimes, criminal justice and related health concerns (i.e. drug addiction and HIV/AIDs). 1.2. Contextual Analysis The FDRE launched a series of bold and comprehensive reforms in April 2018. New initiatives aimed at broadening democratic participation, strengthening justice and rule of law, creating accountable systems of governance were introduced. Reforms in the Justice Sector included legislative review, as well as structural and leadership changes in key justice institutions starting at the Federal level. Yet, despite positive changes across the government in 2018 and 2019, the country continued to struggle with a significant amount of instability and unrest across the country including protests, civil unrest and ethnic violence. On 13 March 2020, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Subsequently, in accordance with Article 93 of the Ethiopian Constitution, the Government declared a five-month State of Emergency on 8 April 2020 which ended in September 2020. With the increase in the transmission of the virus and the State of Emergency in place, the government postponed the sixth general election to 5June 2021. As of 3 January 2021, Ethiopia has reported over 125,622 cases of COVID-19 and 1,948 deaths with 11,305 active cases. The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) has recently issued a directive for the Prevention and Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic (Directive No 30/2020) in order to mitigate the growing spread of 4 • 2020 Annual Progress Report the Novel Coronavirus. Healthcare facilities are strained with the number of intensive care units overburdened. Alternative working arrangements remain in place with many employees continue working from home. The UN and all government institutions continue to limit access to offices. Travel restrictions including isolation periods are in place for international travelers. Embassies are partly open, and some meetings are taking place withstrict health protocols observed. Public gatherings are limited in number and location and transportation services remain highly regulated. Schools were closed on 16 March 2020 and as of 26 October 2020, are now gradually being re-opened. Throughout the country there are a reported reduced number of people using masks as a result of varying attitudes and perceptions of the benefits to public health. The postponement of elections led to a public outcry by political party leaders and by June 2020, the situation worsened when a famous singer and activist, Hachalu Hundesa, was shot dead in Addis Ababa on 29 June 2020. Widespread civil unrest followed throughout the country resulting in the destruction of property, the death of hundreds of civilians and a communication black out for most of July 2020. Despite the postponement of elections at the Federal Level, Tigray conducted regional elections in October 2020 which translated into further disputes between the Federal Government and the Tigray Regional Government. The House of Federation refused to acknowledge the Regional Administration as legitimate. As the one-year anniversary commemorating The Nobel Peace Prize award to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed passed in October 2020, some feared that what was once a sign of strength and amalgamation of the Ethiopian people had become a dangerous form of nationalism. As intercommunal violence continued, Ethiopian Authorities banned the peaceful protests that were planned for the 28 October 2020 by the National Amhara Movement. Increasing tensions led to military action in the Tigray Region, when open armed conflict erupted on 4 November 2020 between the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front and Ethiopian National Defence Force. The conflict quickly escalated with reported airstrikes that destroyed military objectives (artillery including rocket launchers) and killed and wounded hundreds near to the regional capital, Mekelle. Internet, phone lines and power supply weredisconnectedin the region including closure of the air space in the region. Throughout November 2020, there were changes to political appointments within the Ethiopian Government, including law enforcement and criminal justice implementing partners, as the Government redirected attention and focus to the conflict in the Tigray region. The conflict was declared to have ended 28 November 2020,but tensions have remained. Many international organisations shared concerns about the violations of human rights and humanitarian impact, i.e. lack of food and access to basic services within targeted communities. Incidents involving Eritrea and Sudan have caused alarm on regional instability. Several suspected perpetrators were arrested creating pressure on the justice organs partly re-directing the attention of law enforcement practitioners to handling such cases. There is a general concern over security, particularly in the capital where there have been reports of explosions. UN personnel in Ethiopia remain vulnerable to the dynamics of any ethnic violence and internal clashes. These include increased risks of attack on staff, harassment and disrupted travel. These challenges are currently being addressed with constant attention and mitigation measures placed by UN security. The changing health environment, political and security context had implications for implementation and programme delivery. Within the fragile political context and the required restrictions to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, the UNODC Programme Office in Ethiopia developed a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan at the onset of the pandemic and continued its support to criminal justice institutions and partners through modified interventions that were developed in consultation with key stakeholders. The response plan included the use of e-Learning platforms, use of virtual venues for workshops, trainings and meetings. Whilst the use of virtual platforms served as a way to enhance cost-effectiveness and ensured continuity of the delivery of technical assistance, it has not come without its challenges. These include longer timescales to deliver activities due to power cuts, bandwidth