Beyond Opinion: Accountability On Hate Speech On Women's Education

I was raised by parents who believed deeply that education is non-negotiable. My father worked hard to make ends meet so his children could learn and grow while my mother carried the weight of raising us at home, shaping our values and our discipline. This is not an unusual Ethiopian story. This is the Ethiopian story.

And we grew up with manners. With respect. With restraint.

WE DO NOT DEGRADE OTHERS USING ABUSIVE LANGUAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

A woman PUBLICLY, CONFIDENTLY, AND WITHOUT SHAME, claimed that women become arrogant as they advance in education, and that children raised without fathers are inherently ill-mannered. She also claims to have a master's degree and is still "going to the school."

These are targeted, discriminatory statements against women and children. Two groups the law explicitly recognizes as VULNERABLE AND PROTECTED. When such speech is disseminated publicly and deliberately, Ethiopian law treats it as a CRIME!

FDRE Constitution

- Article 25: All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection without discrimination based on sex.
- Article 35(1): Women enjoy equal rights with men, including in education.
- Article 24(1): Everyone has the right to human dignity, honor, and reputation.

Hate Speech and Disinformation Prevention and Suppression Proclamation No. 1185/2020

- Article 2(2): Defines hate speech as communication that deliberately promotes hatred, discrimination, or attack against a person or a discernible group based on identity, including gender.
- Article 7(1): Criminalizes hate speech with simple imprisonment or a fine up to 100,000 birr while Article 7(4) aggravates liability when the speech is disseminated through a social media account with more than 5,000 followers.

Other laws include the Criminal Code of Ethiopia and international instruments ratified by Ethiopia, including the ICCPR, CEDAW, and the Maputo Protocol.

This conduct constitutes hate speech, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), and a violation of the human rights of women and children.

At a time when arrests are being made for public indecency, it must also be said that crimes committed with words should not enjoy immunity simply because they are framed as "opinions." This conduct, too, should not go unreported.

Article 37 of the FDRE Constitution guarantees access to justice and explicitly allows justiciable matters to be brought by any group or person representing a group with similar interests.

Accordingly, we, AAU female law students, are exploring lawful avenues to demand accountability and justice, representing the interests of women and girls. We are preparing a statement of claim in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of Ethiopia and the Federal Courts Proclamation No. 1234/2021, to be submitted to the federal court with proper jurisdiction.

Lawyers, academics, civil society actors, and advocates willing to engage constructively, we welcome your support.