Legal Protections Accorded to Persons with Disabilities under Ethiopian Law

Abstract

Persons with disabilities are marginalized members of society who do not fully and effectively participate in socio-economic activities on an equal basis with others due to various barriers in the environment. Taking this into account, the United Nations has promulgated the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which complements general human rights instruments and gives particular emphasis to respect and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. As a member state, Ethiopia ratified the convention and enacted other domestic laws to ensure equality before the law and benefits for persons with disabilities. This article appraises these laws in order to examine the level of protection accorded to persons with disabilities in Ethiopia. For this purpose, the article gives emphasis to the rights to: equality and non-discrimination, access to the environment, information and communication, employment and tertiary education.