Abstract:
Human trafficking goes against the central value of international human rights norms. The
international human rights law outlawed human trafficking and all forms of exploitation. In addition,
the international community adopted the Trafficking Protocol to address all aspects of trafficking
and protect the human rights of victims. Both human rights law and transnational criminal law
require States to respect the right of protection from trafficking and to take positive actions to
address the problem and protect victims. The failure to do so entails the obligation to provide
remedies for VoTs. Accordingly, providing an effective remedy for VoTs is a central aspect of
international legal response to trafficking, confirming the status of VoTs as victims of crime and
human rights violations. This thesis examined the right to effective remedies for victims of trafficking
under the Ethiopian legal frameworks and the implementation at the national level. Accordingly, it
explored the available legal remedies for VoTs under Ethiopian laws and evaluated the compatibility
of the laws with the international and African human rights instruments and transnational criminal
law instruments ratified by Ethiopia. It also assessed the practical implementation, gaps, and
impediments. In doing so, a combination of doctrinal and empirical qualitative legal research
methodology was applied. Data from both primary and secondary sources were collected and
analysed. Relevant international, regional, and national laws were analysed. Further, purposively
selected government bodies, NOGs, and victims were interviewed, and government plans and
national and international reports were consulted to appraise the implementation. Consequently, this
thesis found that the Ethiopian legal frameworks recognize an absolute right of protection from
trafficking. Ethiopia enacted Proclamation No.1178/2020 to meet its international duty to address
trafficking and to provide remedies for VoTs. This research argued that the right to remedies for
VoTs including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation and recovery, satisfaction, guarantee of
non-repetition, and other procedural rights are provided under Proc. No. 1178/2020 and other laws.
But there are some gaps and inconsistencies that must be improved to effectively remedy VoTs.
Moreover, it is argued that efforts have been made to implement the right to effective remedies for
VoTs though it is not effective in practice. Therefore, this thesis concluded that Ethiopia has taken
commendable legislative, administrative, and practical measures to recognize and implement the
right to effective remedies for VoTs but it is short of legal and practical effectiveness. Accordingly,
recommendations are forwarded for the improvement of normative and practical gaps.