By: Goshu Melisew
Women’s rights advocates have called for legal and institutional reforms to combat the rising threat of online gender-based violence (GBV)in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Women Development Organization (EWDO), in collaboration with the Strategic Initiative for the Horn of Africa (SIHA), convened a high-level training forum, under the theme: “Preventing Online Gender-Based Violence, Empowering Women Lawyers, Judges & Parliamentarians, and Advocating for Legal Reforms.”
Participants included members of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, federal judges, female prosecutors, and legal professionals forming a powerful alliance aimed at shaping a safer digital space for Ethiopian women.
The forum highlighted the urgent need to address online abuse, which continues to affect women's safety, dignity, and participation in public life.
“This is a turning point,” said Kimia Junedi from the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. “We must reform our laws to reflect the new realities of violence women face in digital media.”
Ashenefech Abebe, Vice President of the Federal First Instance Courts, emphasized that empowering women within the legal system is key to tackling online GBV effectively and sustainably.
SIHA’s Ethiopia Coordinator, Zemdena Abebe, underscored the project’s core mission: preventing tech-facilitated violence and pushing for stronger, more responsive legal frameworks.
Participants praised the training for its relevance and timeliness, expressing readiness to incorporate lessons learned into their ongoing work.
The Ethiopian Women Development Organization extended its appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the fight against GBV, reaffirming its commitment to ending GBV in all forms.
As the digital world evolves, Ethiopia’s legal system is being called to evolve with it guided by the voices of the women shaping justice from the inside out.