ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said that reforming the justice sector has an important role to play in ensuring rule of law as he spoke to thousands of justice sector professionals in his office yesterday.
The government has not intervened and would not meddle in the justice system, the Premier told over 3,000 participants drawn from various organizations.
Dr. Abiy also said that reforming the justice system would help to avoid unjust and illegal activities unfolding in the country, reiterating the importance of building professionals’ capacities and nurturing public who believe in the supremacy of law. “Government officials are no exceptions. Those in power should be accountable to their acts,” the Premier told the crowd.
He also emphasized the role of informal social norms and values as key components in the rule of law. Indigenous norms should be utilized properly in the efforts to address conflicts and unjust acts.
Wide ranges of issues were raised by the participants including independence of judicial bodies, internally displaced peoples, rule of law, human rights, salary and incentives and others to which the Prime Minister responded.
The discussion was followed by transplanting seedlings with the Premier calling upon the participants to spend the upcoming rainy season by planting seedlings, cleaning schools, health centers and correctional facilities.
Meanwhile, a roundtable discussion themed: ‘Greening & Cleaning Ethiopia’ also held at the Office of the Prime Minister in which “panelists raised the interrelationships between the ‘Beautifying Sheger’ project; the 4 billion trees and the monthly cleaning/cleansing initiatives which aim to address key challenges towards making Ethiopia a green, productive and climate resilient country,” according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
It further reported that “Dr. Seleshi Bekele highlighted the ways in which the tree planting initiative is rooted in Ethiopia’s green and climate resilient policy and strategy.”
“From a health perspective, Dr. Amir explained in what ways all the initiatives contribute towards addressing health challenges in Ethiopia, including communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as impacts on early childhood development,” the office reported in its official site.
Meskerem Tamiru shared the technical details of the ‘Beautifying Sheger’ project and the way in which it exceeds cosmetic cleaning but is rooted in ensuring that the city’s river systems are cleaned of liquid and solid waste; residents are protected from river flooding and city dwellers are provided an environment of dignity, it said.
Dr. Meheret particularly emphasized the importance of dignity and its relationship with the thoughts we generate and the environment we create, stressing that nature is not dirty in of itself – it is people that intervene, it added.
The Ethiopian Herald June 7/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
