The Ethiopian Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Stateless Persons

Abstract

This paper examines the legal protections available to stateless persons in Ethiopia, highlighting the significant challenges posed by the absence of specific laws addressing their rights. The paper explores international and regional legal instruments, which outline the rights and protections afforded to stateless persons; although Ethiopia is a signatory to some of these instruments, the effectiveness of their implementation at the national level remains limited. It further analyzes Ethiopia's national legal framework, including the FDRE Constitution, the Ethiopian Nationality Proclamation No. 378/2003, and other related laws. This paper aims to pinpoint the gaps in the existing legal frameworks, particularly how these laws address (or fail to address) the rights of stateless persons, identifying gaps such as the lack of clear procedures for acquiring nationality, insufficient protections against statelessness arising from birth, and the absence of targeted legal provisions for stateless individuals. It also attempts to fill existing legal gaps, enhance the protection of stateless persons, and contribute to reducing statelessness in Ethiopia. By highlighting these issues and proposing concrete legal reforms, the article seeks to improve the legal environment for stateless persons in Ethiopia. The paper concludes by advocating for the enactment of specific legislation tailored to protect stateless persons in Ethiopia.