ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
WITNESS PROTECTION IN ETHIOPIAN: THE LAW AND PRACTICE
IN GAMO ZONE JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS
BY:ABERA AGASHE
A PROPOSAL THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR
THE REQUIREMENTOF BACHELOR DEGREE IN LAW (LL.B)
ADVISOR:MR KEBROM (LL.B, LL.M)
JANUARY, 2023
ARBAMINCH UNVERSITY, ETHIOPIA
Contents
page
Acronym........................................................................................................................................................i
CHAPTER ONE..............................................................................................................................................1
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Back ground of the study......................................................................................................................1
1.2. Statement of problem ...........................................................................................................................3
1.3. Objective of the study...........................................................................................................................3
1.3.1. General objective.......................................................................................................................3
1.3.2. Specific objective.......................................................................................................................4
1.4. The research question..........................................................................................................................4
1.5. Significance of the study......................................................................................................................4
1.6. The scope of the study.........................................................................................................................5
1.7. Research methodology........................................................................................................................5
1.7.1. Source of data...........................................................................................................................5
1.7.2. Data collection techniques.......................................................................................................5
1.7.3. Questionnaire...........................................................................................................................6
1.7.4. Sample size and techniques.....................................................................................................6
1.8. Limitation of the study........................................................................................................................6
1.9. Ethical Consideration..........................................................................................................................6
1.10. Organization of the study..................................................................................................................7
1.11. Reference............................................................................................................................................8
ACRONYMS
FDRE ------ the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
CRC ------- the Criminal Code.
CPC ------- the Criminal Procedural Code.
ACJHR----- the African court of justice and human rights.
APA---------Africa prosecutors association.
ECCC-------the extraordinary chambers in the court of Cambodia.
ECOSOC-------the economic and social council.
ICAC----------the independent commission against corruption.
ICC-----------the international criminal court.
ICTR--------the international criminal for Rwanda.
ICTY-------the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
SCSL-------the special court of Shearline.
UN--------the United Nations.
UNCAC------ the United Nations convention against corruption.
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UNCTOC--------the United Nations convention against transitional organized crime.
UN GA------------the United Nations general assembly.
UNODC---------the United Nations office on drugs and crime.
WPA-------------the witness protection act.
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CHAPTER ONE
1. Introduction
1.1. Back ground of the study
Witness protection may be as simple as providing escort police to the court room, offering
temporary residence in a safe house or using modern communication technology such as video
conferencing for testimony. Even though, witness is critical for successful prosecution but the
reach and strength of the threatening criminal group is so powerful that extraordinary measures
are required to ensure the witness safety. In such cases resettlement of the witness under new
identity, undisclosed place of residence in the country or even abroad may be the only viable
alternative.1
The primary objective of witness protection was to protect the physical security of witness for
the purpose of securing their testimony in a criminal justice process .However, as protective
practice has developed; improving witness related conduct throughout the justice system has
become important because of the need to achieve witness cooperation at each phase of the justice
process. Psychological, health and socio economic consideration have taken on a more
prominent role in the engagement and protection of witness prior to, during and after testimony.2
Providing protection for witnesses of criminal offences plays a significant role in order to ensure
the safety and security of the public by having criminal offenders brought to justice and sustain
the right penalty and uncovering crimes that may cause serious threat to the public as a
whole ,Witness constitutes a person who has given or agreed to give information or has acted or
agrees to act as a witness in the investigation or trial of an offence.3
1
Wilson Supra note 4.
2
Implementation of witness protection Act International Level comparative study pp.172.
3
Wekgari Dulume, Ethiopian witness protection system; comparative Analysis with UNHCHR and Good practices of
witness protection Report/December 2016/, Oromia, Journal Vol, 6 No,1, pages 124.
1
Individualfacingcriminalinvestigationorprosecutionwanttoaffectthejusticesystemtorelievethemsel
vesfromcriminalliability;byintimidatingwitnessandortheirfamiliestojeopardizethecriminalproceed
ing.Thus,itisnecessaryto protect
thewitnessfromsuchintimidationandotherformofattacktomakethemrevealingthetruthforattainment
ofjustices.4Theprotectionofwitnesshasgivenrecognitionby international instruments
andEthiopianLaws.
TheUnitedNationConventionagainstTransnationalOrganizedCrime[GeneralAssemblyResolution5
5/25,200,annex)underart24recognizedtheprotectionofwitnessanditprovidethatstatepartiesaretotak
eappropriatemeasuretoprovideeffectiveprotectionfromretaliationorintimidationforwitnesswhogiv
etestimonyincase involving trasnationalorganized
crime.5IntheEthiopianprotectionofwitnessandwhistleblowerofcriminaloffencesproclamation,
No699\2010hascometothepicturetoprotectwitness.6Moreover,thereisalsootherlegislationliketheA
nti-Terrorismproclamation,No652\2009/underarticles32.TherevisedAnti-
corruptionspecialprocedureandruleofevidenceproclamationNo434\2005underarticles48,whichhav
eprovidedthattheprotectionofwitnessandwhistleBlower.7Eventhough,witnessprotectiongivenreco
gnitionunderotherJurisdictionanddomesticlawofthecountry.As far as the above literature is
concerned, the researcher there for wants to explore how far the justice institution ofGamo zone
has gone as regard the opinion of the witness protection. Moreover, the researcher want to
investigate how the justice institution of Gamozone implemente the witness protection. The
research paper will try to show that the witnesss toprotection in justice institution. Therefore, the
research paper is not limited only the legal framework of the witness protection rather it will also
investigate how the Gamo zone justice institution applied the witness protection.
4
Koren Elaire (2004) Research No 43 witness program in the selected countries annotated bibliography attow on
public safety.
5
Antonio Maria supra note 2
6
The protection of witness and whistie-blower of criminal offence proclamation No, 699/2010
7
Revised Anti-corruption special procedure and rule evidence proclamation No, 434/2005 art 48.
2
1.2 Statement of the problem
Witness protection plays a pivotal role in the dispensation of justice in general and prosecution
of criminals in particular. In most circumstances, if there is no witness the criminal justice
system will be at difficulty of prosecuting serious crimes that pose danger to the public at large.
Therefore, for the sake of dispensation of justice in general and prosecution of criminals in
particular the criminal justice system shall give adequate protection for witnesses. The
government is required to come up with measures of witness protection which includes the
enactment of laws .The intended purpose of ensuring the safety and security of the public will
not be achieved in case if the government fail to come up with protection policies and programs.
Lack of protection programs, protective authority and legislative measures are among the bottle
necks that hinder the achievement of the intended purpose of securing the safety of witness and
ultimately the public at large. Therefore, the researcher it is necessary to investigate and come up
with a decisive solution to the witness protection. Hence, the study seeks to find out how the
witness protection is implemented by Gamo zone justice institution. Moreover, the study will
ascertain the aforementioned problem are existing in Gamo zone justice institution.
1.3. Objective of the study
1.3.1. General objective
The general objective of this research focus on witness protection in Ethiopia Law and practice
in Gamo zone justice institution.
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1.3.2. Specific objective
To show the challenges facing in relation to witness protection under Ethiopian legal
system.
To study as to what kind of measures are being taken to assist and support witnesses.
To show if there are any witness protection authorities and programs in Ethiopia.
To examine the implementation of witness protection in Gamo zone justice institution.
To identify the justification for the witness protection.
1.4. Research question
The issues I want to address in this paperer:
What arethechallengesfacinginrelationtowitnessprotectioninEthiopianlegalsystem?
Whatkindofsupportandassistanceisgivenforwitnesses(themeasurestaken)?
Is there any witness protection authority or program in Ethiopia?
What are justifications for the witness protection?
How to implement the witness protection in Gamo zone justice institution?
1.5. Significance of the study
The research will have an important contribution for any readers to know the gaps between the
law on paper and the reality on practice the practice in relation to witness protection in Gamo
zone justice institution. In addition to this benefit, the study will serve as creating awareness for
the society in general about witness protection and advantages for any researcher who wants to
conduct further research in this area. This paper will help to set out the witness protection
programs if any.
1.6 scope of the study
The of this paper is limited to witnesses of criminal offences. The paper is dealing with what protection
measures are available under the Ethiopian legal system for the one who has given or agrees to
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information or has act as a witnes in the investigation or trial of an offence and the practice of witness
protection In Gamo zone justice institution.
1.7 Methodology of the Study
The study will be about witness protection in Ethiopian legal system. Beginning from the Federal
democratic republic of Ethiopia constitution going down ward to the witness protection
proclamation, criminal procedure code will be analysed as relevant literatures. Journals, articles
will also be highlighted if any and witness protection practice in Gamo zone justice institution.
1.7.1 Source of data
The way to my study, I will use both primary and secondary sources. The primary source will be
interview, legal documents (gathering different laws mainly from national laws such as the, 1995
FDRE constitution of Ethiopia, the criminal procedure code…etc) and questionnaire. Secondary
sources will be text books, dictionary, journals, if any past research conducted in relation to the
subject matter, Internet, report are relevant to this study.
1.7.2 Data collection techniques
To get enough and relevant date, researcher will use questionnaire and interview as tool for date
collection.
1.7.3. Questionnaire
In this type of data collection, researcher will apply both open and close ended questions. The
question will be prepared for some groups of people such as judges, public prosecutors, polices
and witnesses.
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1.7.4 Sample size and techniques
This will be under taken to show the law and practice aspect of witness protection. It will be
conducted by randomly selecting judges, public prosecutors, polices and witnesses from Gamo
zone justice institution.
1.8. Limitation of the study
The fact there will be no enough budget is the main challenges for this study and Scarcity of
sufficient source on the area of the thesis. In addition to this, there may be shortage of time due
to preparation for the national exit exam.
1.9. Ethical Consideration
Ethical Consideration can be specified as one of the most important parts of the research
dissertations may even bedlam to failure it this part is missing. Study is specifically for academic
purposes only. All sources are informed which means from legally recognized source and
properly cited information related to privacy and public morality or state security are first
considered by researcher to do so informed sources were used in this study. Then the researcher
will be confidential.
1.10 organization of the study
The first chapter of the
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