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The School of Law sees research as a key tool in helping us achieve the enhancement of democracy, good governance, tolerance, equity, social justice and economic development for the people of Ethiopia.  It is with this in mind that the School recently established a research and consultancy committee in order to coordinate our research activities under the broad theme – “Legal System, Judiciary and Human Rights’’.

The practice of granting legal protection to human beings by states dates back to the time of ancient legal systems. They are numerous and some developed to be of universal application. Changes in human life induce changes in the legal spectrum. At any point in time, the nature, scope and essence of the protection, the extent of their enforcement, the strength and weakness of the legal system, attitude of the public and its response to the legal system, etc. should be in continuous assessment and should be backed up by a corrective and, when necessary, reformative policy and legal measures. However, it is agreeable that such measures shall always be identified by research findings. Besides the usual court litigation, other ways of resolving disputes, amicable or binding, are said to be more economical in terms of money, time and energy. The alternatives which basically include arbitration and mediation are also in tune with the foundation of the social bond that can otherwise be affected if all disputes are seen by courts.

 Research-able issues which can be addressed under this broad theme include:

  • Human trafficking ; harmful traditional practices as violations of human rights; the law and practice to protect rights of domestic servant; justice for victims of crime and abuse of power; child abuse & neglect; faith based charities and the right not to be discriminated Child rights
  • Human and Environment security; climate change and  legal regimes; environment and water laws; trade law and environment; environmental rights and enforcement mechanisms; air pollution and climate change
  • Peace and development (Third generation human rights; law and development; WTO accession and Implications; trade law and development; WTO and the international trade regime; intellectual property policy and development; good governance and development; the right to food as a basic human right
  • State constitutionalism; constitutional law; human rights and the constitution; federalism; constitutional studies focusing on the regional constitution; constitutional limits as criminal law
  • Code of conduct for organs of justice; principles of independence of the judiciary; law and practice in civil status in Ethiopia; on the jurisdiction and practice of international criminal court (ICC); administrative injustice and corruption; the law making process; administrative procedure; judicial independence and functioning
  • Crime control; drug abuse and criminality; international minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners: law and practice; the “Choice of Evils” in a criminal defense; the rights of prisoners; juvenile justice; the crime problem(criminology) courts and the court system; criminal justice system; crimes against property
  • Role of arbitration/ mediation in light of restorative justice; scope of arbitration/ mediation in criminal matters: the law and the practice; the place of “social courts” in Ethiopia; the concept of “Alternative Lawyering”; social courts organization
  • Code of conduct for medical professionals vis-à-vis human rights; the right to health as a basic human right; principles of medical ethics relating to human rights
  • Territorial asylum; freedom of Movement in Ethiopian Federal experience: emerging opportunities and challenges
  • Women discrimination and empowerment; gender justice and rights of women
  • Ethiopia’s interest in international rivers
  • Land Tenure Security; problems related to rural land certification and registration; rural land consolidation; land expropriation; due process guarantees while taking properties; legality of the amount of compensation in case of expropriation
  • Rights of employees; disciplinary procedures in various administrative agencies around Gondar; employment disputes and legal remedies thereto; on discrimination (employment and occupation); local aspects of product liability
  • academic freedom in campus life (personal and institutional); freedom of expression: case oriented studies around Gondar; Freedom of religion and beliefs: the problem of intolerance and discrimination; the place of right to life, morality and ethics under the Ethiopian legal system
  • Global Governance and approaches to Global Justice; conflict analysis and conflict resolutions; intergovernmental relations
  • Tax law, tax policy and tax administration
  • Legal Aid Provision and opportunities and challenges thereto

 At present there are 15 research projects being undertaken by instructors within the School of Law. If you would like to find out more about these pieces of research please contact:

Name
Ato Kelali Kiros
Job Title:
Dean, School of Law
Email:
kiroskelali@yahoo.com
Tel (office):
+251 581141928/1278

“Achieving our aims through the creation of knowledge”