Center for Human Rights, Addis Ababa University

The Center organized workshop on sustaining human rights mainstream training in higher education

The Center for Human Rights organized a workshop on 20 May 2026 aimed at sustaining human rights mainstreaming training delivered over the past three years under the STRACE II Project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa . The event focused on identifying strategies to institutionalize basic human rights education within AAU undergraduate programs.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Anchinesh Sheferaw, Head of the Center, emphasized the importance of integrating human rights modules into curricula and extracurricular activities. She highlighted the need to explore partnerships and mobilize resources to sustain training initiatives.

The Center presented achievements from its training initiative, noting that it has conducted Training of Trainers (TOT) for AAU undergraduate students and facilitated peer-to-peer sessions that reached a significant number of social and natural science students. To ensure sustainability, the Center is adapting its human rights training for delivery through AAU’s online learning system.

Dr. Mekdes Tadelle, Director of the Human Rights Education Department at the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), shared their experience in mainstreaming human rights education in primary and secondary schools, offering valuable insights for higher education integration.

Participants included AAU faculty members, undergraduate student representatives, EHRC ,ministry of education ,civil society organizations, and government stakeholders. They welcomed the initiative and provided constructive feedback on ways to expand human rights training across AAU and other universities nationwide.

A panel discussion engaging students who had participated in TOT and peer-to-peer training underscored the positive impact of the program. Students reported that the training enhanced their knowledge, skills, and networking opportunities, while improving a stronger human rights culture on campus. They recommended offering the training as an elective course for undergraduate students to ensure broader participation.

In closing, Dr. Anchinesh expressed appreciation for the active engagement of participants and called for continued collaboration to sustain and expand human rights mainstreaming initiatives in higher education.

Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission

On International Women’s Day 2026, commemorated under the theme “ . . . For ALL and ”, the Center for Human Rights reaffirms its commitment to advancing the protection and realization of women and girls’ rights.

This year’s theme underscores the need to dismantle barriers to equal justice, including discriminatory laws, inadequate legal protections, and harmful social norms that continue to undermine the dignity, safety, and equal participation of women and girls in many societies. Addressing these challenges requires sustained commitment from institutions, communities, and policymakers to ensure equal access to justice and the effective protection of human rights.

Through our academic programs,training initiatives, knowledge dissemination through publication of researches on wide range of pertinent issues by way of the Ethiopian Journal of Human Rights(EJHR) and policy dialogues, we strive to mainstream human rights across disciplines, equipping institutions with the knowledge and tools needed to protect women and girls from violence, discrimination, and exploitation. In addition, our free legal aid services serve as a vital safeguard, ensuring that those whose rights have been violated receive justice and the support they deserve.

As we mark this important day, we call for collective action by institutions, communities, civil societies and individuals to advance rights, uphold justice, and ensure sustainable protection for all women and girls. Together, we can build a society where equality is not an aspiration but a lived reality.


Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa