The Incident

Early in 2023 in the city of Jigjiga, in the Somali region of the horn of Ethiopia, an 11-year-old girl, Fatuma Ugas, was brutally raped and strangled. She was attacked in her home by four men, believed to be her father’s employees.

The Wider Context

This incident reflects the broader issue of gender-based violence  and femicide in Ethiopia, a country with significant representation of women in politics –  yet grappling with endemic violence against women.

Systemic Challenges

Legal distinctions between femicide and homicide are blurry, and gender-based investigations are insufficient.

The Victim’s Story

Fatuma’s rape and femicide highlights the vulnerability of girls in Ethiopia to sexual and physical violence, even within their own homes.

Responsible Legislation in the Country

Ethiopia’s legal framework on GBV and femicide lacks specificity and effectiveness, failing to protect its women adequately.