The Place of Crimes against Humanity under the Ethiopian Legal System: A Reflection

Abstract

Crimes against humanity are among the most heinous forms of
international crimes that shock the conscience of mankind. The international
community has sporadically prosecuted perpetrators of these crimes since the
aftermath of World War II and then after. Apart from international
prosecutions, different countries have enacted laws that penalize the
commission of such crimes. Some others have applied customary
international law to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes. Some years back,
Ethiopia has prosecuted former Derg officials for their alleged commission of
crimes against humanity. This author intends to explore the place of crimes
against humanity under the Ethiopian legal system. The paper begins with the
exposition of the concept of crimes against humanity and its constitutive
elements under customary international law. It then proceeds to specifically
explore the place of crimes against humanity under the Ethiopian legal
system. Finally the paper draws a conclusion.