Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has held a discussion session with women representing diverse backgrounds from all corners of the country to hear their perspectives and experiences.
After the dialogue, Abiy highlighted the pivotal and wide-ranging contributions of women to Ethiopian society, stating “The role of Ethiopian women within our society is truly multifaceted.”
“In today’s discussion session, I’ve heard from women from all corners of the country and diverse backgrounds,” the Prime Minister wrote in a statement posted on social media.
While no specific details were provided about the issues raised during the talks, Abiy has made women’s rights and empowerment one of the key priorities of his administration since taking office in 2018.
His government has introduced landmark reforms, including passing laws banning child marriage, workplace discrimination and public harassment of women. It has also mandated gender parity in hiring for Ethiopia’s federal civil service.
However, women’s rights advocates argue more progress is still needed, especially in areas like maternal healthcare, girls’ education, economic opportunities and stamping out pervasive gender-based violence.
The dialogue appears to be part of broader efforts by Abiy’s government to elevate women’s voices from the grassroots level and tackle persisting gender inequalities across Ethiopian society.
In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 2019, Abiy stressed the importance of women’s participation at all levels. “Upholding their rights unequivocally is not only guaranteed in our constitution, it is the right thing to do,” he said.
Thursday’s discussion session included representatives from multiple Ethiopian regions and sectors, including business leaders, healthcare workers, politicians, and civil society advocates.
