Human rights protection under the FDRE and the Oromia Constitutions: a comparative study

This paper makes a comparative analysis of human rights protection as provided under the 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian Constitution (FDRE Constitution) and the 2001 Oromia Regional State Revised Constitution with its amendments (OromiaConstitution). Guided by the principle of a better protection of human rights under the state constitutions, it compares and contrasts the two constitutions in terms of recognized rights for the right holders, and the way the recognized rights are limited, derogated from, amended, and adjudicated. The overall comparison shows that although the two constitutions are largely similar as far as the protection of human rights is concerned, there are areas of differences resulting in less protection by restricting the rights, or better protection by expanding the rights under the Oromia Constitution than the minimum protection given under the FDRE Constitution. The departure by the Oromia Constitution to build on the minimum protection given under the FDRE Constitution is normal and acceptable. However, the departure with the effect of providing less protection for human rights cannot be justified under the existing international jurisprudence. The paper recommends revision of the Oromia Constitution to the extent it provides lesser protection of rights than the FDRE Constitution.Keywords: A better protection of human rights, FDRE Constitution, Oromia Constitutio

Examining the design of the federal democratic republic of Ethiopian constitution in the light of Arend Lijphart’s guidelines of constitutional design for divided societies

Consociational democracy model is a political model developed by Arend Lijphart as a solution to the problem of unstable democracy in divided societies. Its core idea is that in a divided societies, stable democracy can be realized if diversities are acknowledged and accommodated through mechanisms of a grand coalition, minority veto, proportional representation,and segmental autonomy. However, Lijphart remarks that the practical effectiveness of consociational model presupposes wise constitutional design for which he provided nine main guidelines of constitutional design for divided societies (hereinafter shortly referred as, Lijphart’s guidelines): 1) Proportional legislative electoral system, 2) Using the simplest form of proportional electoral system, 3) Establishing parliamentary form of government, 4) Power-sharing in the executive, 5) Ensuring cabinet stability, 6) A ceremonial head of the state who is not directly elected by the people, 7) Adopting federalism and decentralization, 8) Granting non-territorial autonomy, and 9) Powersharing beyond the cabinet and parliament. This article examined to what extent the design of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian Constitution (Hereinafter shortly referred as, the FDRE Constitution) reflects Lijphart’s nine guidelines mainly by analyzing the provisions of the Constitution vis-a-vis the guidelines or by considering the existing prevailing political practice in some cases. The overall findings of the examination are summarized into four areas. These are:1) Areas where the design of the Constitution totally deviated from Lijphart’s guidelines;2) Areas where the design of the Constitution remained silent as to Lijphart’s guidelines;3) Areas where the design of the Constitution corresponded to Lijphart's guidelines inform but deviated or at least has potential to deviate in substance; and4) Areas where the design of the Constitution fully corresponded to Lijphart’s guidelinesThe deviations (both in form and substance, or in substance alone), or the silences of the Constitution as to the guidelines are mainly because of the choice of electoral system, lack of explicit constitutional provisions, the absence of established political practice, or silence of the constitution.Keywords: Consociational democracy, FDRE Constitution, Lijphart’s Guidelines, minority,divided societie

Sustainable development laws in Ethiopia: Opportunities and challenges of their implementation

Despite the recognition of sustainable development in different legal documents and laws in Ethiopia, implementation in its fullest sense remains a key challenge. This article examines the place of sustainable development under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution and other national environmental laws. It discusses the challenges of promoting sustainable development in Ethiopia by reviewing the existing and relevant literature and assessing legal documents and commitments made by the country. The article recommends the working together of government as well as environmental and investment institutions to make coordinated and coherent efforts to advancing effective implementation of sustainable development and the realization of SDGs in Ethiopia.Keywords: Sustainable Development, Constitution, Environmental Laws, Challenge

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% 47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% 32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% 27.9-42.8] and 33.3% 25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license