The Rights of Deaf Persons Access to Civil Justice in Ethiopia: Examining the Laws and Practices

Abstract

It is estimated that up to 5 million people in Ethiopia suffer from hearing difficulties. Some have dual or multiple disabilities, such as persons with hearing and visual impairments. Persons with hearing impairments confront communication challenges in court while struggling to defend their rights. Providing a sign language interpreter or other forms of accommodation lessens their communication barrier in court. This article investigates how the Ethiopian civil justice delivery system accommodates the rights and needs of deaf persons to ensure their right to access justice effectively. Based on a sociolegal research assessment of the law and practice in Federal and Oromia regional courts, it contends that the present legal framework of Ethiopia does not adequately provide accommodations for deaf people to access civil justice, effectively. Practically, courts lack a permanently functioning sign language interpreter and do not provide a conducive court environment to meet the special needs of deaf individuals. With this, it recommends amending existing laws, adopting sign language as a working language of the courts and providing essential facilities in courts to enable deaf people to access civil justice.