When the government unveiled a draft of its second National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP II) before the House of Peoples' Representatives (HPR) in early November, lawmakers were told that the objective was to improve the human rights condition in the country. Chiefly, NHRAP II would develop a comprehensive and structured mechanism to advance the respect, protection, and fulfillment of human and democratic rights, which are explicitly guaranteed by the country's constitution, according to the draft. Furthermore, the draft, which was then referred to the appropriate standing committee, would draw on "valuable lessons" from its predecessor that was implemented between 2013 and 2015.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, (EHRC), the government-sponsored body designated with the mandate to oversee human rights in the country, has brought the draft for consultation with stakeholders on 29th November and while briefing the HPR, Yibekal Gizaw, head of the NHRAP II Secretariat at the Federal Attorney General's office, said that among the objectives of the second action plan are objectives that show the importance of human rights for sustainable development within government entities, building public awareness about human rights issues and addressing the concerns of vulnerable groups. At the event, Addisu Gebregziabher, head of EHRC, expounded that NHRAP II would work to ensure the constitutionally-granted human and democratic rights of the people of Ethiopia.
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