How Ethiopia's Domestic Violence Policies Fall Short

Ethiopia has agreed to many international and regional rules to stop violence against women. Yet, many women in the country still face domestic violence. There is not much information on how these rules are put into action or the problems that come up. A recent study looked into the challenges of stopping domestic violence against women in northwestern Ethiopia. The study involved talking to 43 people who play key roles in preventing domestic violence. These people were chosen because of their important positions in implementing policies and programs. They took part in detailed interviews and group discussions. The conversations were recorded and then turned into text for analysis. The findings showed many issues that make it hard to put these policies into action. One big problem is money. There isn't enough funding to support the programs. Planning is also poor, and the planned activities often don't happen as intended. Another issue is the lack of political support and commitment from local leaders. They have other priorities and don't always see stopping domestic violence as a top concern. The programs also struggle with integration and collaboration. Different sectors don't work together well, which weakens the overall effort. To make these policies work better, future efforts need to focus on a few key areas. There needs to be better teamwork between different groups. Budget issues must be addressed, and local leaders need to show more commitment. Changing long-standing gender norms is also crucial. These norms often support the very violence that the policies aim to prevent. By tackling these issues, Ethiopia can take significant steps toward effectively preventing domestic violence against women.