Ethiopia
1. Constitutional structure and position of IHL in domestic law
Ethiopia is a Federal Republic. According to Article 51.8 of the Constitution, the Federal State has the power to negotiate and ratify international treaties. Under Article 55.12 of the Constitution, the (Federal) Council of Peoples' Representatives ratifies the international treaties that are negotiated and signed by the (Federal) Executive.
Under Article 9.4 of the Constitution, all treaties ratified by Ethiopia are part of the laws of the country. They acquire the status of ordinary law. Moreover, all the fundamental rights and liberties contained in Chapter 3 of the Constitution are interpreted in conformity with international human rights and humanitarian instruments, as provided in Article 13.2 of the Constitution.
Ethiopia ratified the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 on 2 october 1969 and both Additional Protocols of 1977 on 8 April 1994. Neither the Geneva Conventions of 1949 nor their additional Protocols have been published in the Negarit Gazeta.
2. Implementing institution
The National Advisory Committee on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law was created by a decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 1997. The Committee is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and includes representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Culture and Information, Health and Education, representatives from the Parliament, the Law Faculties and Civil Service College, and the National Red Cross Society.
The plan of action and the statutes of the Committee, which does not meet at regular intervals, now exist in draft form.
3. Bibliography
T. S. ENGELSCHIØN, "Prosecution of War Crimes and Violations of Human Rights in Ethiopia", Yearbook of African Law, Vol. 8, 1994 , pp. 41-55.
Full text of the Constitution: 
Extracts of the Constitution:
Chapter three - Fundamental rights and freedoms
Art. 13. Scope of Application and Interpretation
1. All Federal and State legislative, executive and judicial organs at all levels shall have a responsability and duty to respect and enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
2. The fundamental rights and liberties contained in this Chapter shall be interpreted in a manner conforming to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenants on Human Rights and international instruments adopted by Ethiopia.
Art. 28. Crimes against humanity
1. Criminal liability of persons who commit crimes against humanity, so defined by international agreements ratified by Ethiopia and by other laws of Ethiopia, such as genocide, summary executions, forcible desappearances or torture shall not be barred by statute of limitation. Such offences may not be commuted by amnesty or pardon of the legislature or any other state organ.
2. In the case of persons convicted of any crime stated in sub-article 1 of this Article and sentenced with the death penalty, the Head of State may, without prejudice to the provisions hereinabove, commute the punishment to life imprisonment.
