Acknowledgement
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) wishes to express
its appreciation to the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
(FDRE) for extending an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and
Conditions of Detention in Africa to visit and inspect prisons and other places of
detention in the country. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the authorities for their
hospitality, cooperation and support given during the duration of the mission.
A special note of appreciation also extended to the Ethiopian Human Rights Council
(EHRCO) which assisted with some logistical preparations prior to the mission. The
Special Rapporteur is particularly grateful to all the Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) that found time to meet with her, as well as those that could not meet with
her but were willing to provide valuable information regarding the prison regime in
Ethiopia through the telephone. The information provided by these NGOs proved
invaluable during the inspection phase of the mission.
The Special Rapporteur would also like to acknowledge the contribution made by
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Penal Reform International (PRI) by providing
relevant information about prison situations in Ethiopia prior to the mission.
It is also important to acknowledge the important contribution of Mr. Bareket Samuel
who accompanied the delegation throughout the mission and assisted in some cases as
an interpreter. The devotion of the drivers, especially Mr. Hebtamu Lema with whom
we travelled hundreds of kilometres from one region of the country to another,
sometimes into the early hours of the morning, is also acknowledged.
Most importantly, the Special Rapporteur would like to recognize the openness and
frankness of the local prison authorities as well as the detainees. Together, they
facilitated our work and we hope such openness will continue so as to enhance the
condition of detention of persons deprived of their liberty.
4
Report of the Mission of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons to Ethiopia
15 – 29 March 2004