July 2025

Consultative Meeting Held on the Proposed Revision of CSOs Proclamation On July 3, 2025, NEWA convened a consultative meeting at Kaleb Hotel, Addis Ababa with its member organizations and the Women’s Political Participation Community of Practice (CoP) to discuss the proposed revision of Civil Societies Proclamation No. 1113/2019.The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Agency for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) have initiated a process to revise the current Proclamation. Among the proposed amendments are a deeply concerning provision: the restriction of CSOs from engaging in areas deemed “political advocacy,” including activities such as voter education. Such changes threaten to roll back the progress achieved and risk silencing crucial civic voices, particularly those of women and marginalized groups.The meeting aimed to Voice collective concerns regarding the proposed amendments, Explore the implications from a gender and inclusion perspective, and Consolidate recommendations to contribute constructively to the ongoing review process.  

NEWA held a Bi-Annual Task Force Consultation Meeting As part of the She Leads project, NEWA held a Bi-Annual Task Force Consultation Meeting on June 30, 2025, at Kaleb Hotel, Addis Ababa.The consultation brought together key government representatives, youth leaders, and civil society organizations to reflect on project achievements, identify ongoing challenges, and strengthen coordination in the collective pursuit of gender equality and youth empowerment.The session opened with a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive dialogue and accountability. It provided a platform to review six months of project progress, with reports and updates highlighting the impact of grassroots initiatives led by sub-grant partners. These efforts demonstrated the growing strength of youth-led movements and their role in driving meaningful change at the local level.Government bodies—including the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Planning and Development (MOPD), Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MOWSA), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Labor and Skills (MOLS), Bureau of Women and Social Affairs (BOWSA), and Addis Ababa Bureau of Education in Addis Ababa—offered reflections and expressed a strong commitment to closer collaboration with youth actors and civil society partners.A critical challenge identified during the meeting was the delay in ratifying the National Youth Policy—a gap that continues to hinder national-level engagement and recognition of young people’s voices. In response, youth leaders from the Ethiopian Young Woman Voice (EYWV) took the floor to share their progress, raise strategic questions, and call for action. Their presence underscored the power of youth-led advocacy and demanded concrete responses from the task force.The meeting concluded with a unifying message: “When we work for women, we are also working for 50% of men. Engaging young women—especially through platforms like EYWV—is essential. Our collaboration must continue. This task force is here to shape a better future for girls and young women. If we want real change, we must work together.”The consultation affirmed the importance of sustained multi-stakeholder engagement and a shared vision for a more inclusive, just, and equitable society—where girls and young women lead the way.

NEWA successfully conducted a two-day peacebuilding and conflict resolution training across five regional states Over the past two months, from May to June, NEWA successfully conducted a two-day peacebuilding and conflict resolution training across five regional states: Benishangul-Gumuz, Afar, Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia. The primary objective of this training was to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills related to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda. The training covered essential themes, including the definition of key concepts, analysis of conflict dynamics, and various resolution strategies such as dialogue, mediation, and negotiation. A significant focus was placed on the importance of gender-sensitive approaches, as emphasized by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, highlighting barriers and opportunities for women’s participation in peace processes through practical case studies.

NEWA organized an Awareness Creation Training for Media Outlets focused on international, continental, and national legal frameworks governing the political rights of women and persons with disabilities. The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA) is currently implementing a project titled “Inclusive Women’s Political Participation in Ethiopia,” with financial support from the Political Parties of Finland for Democracy—Demo Finland. This initiative is being carried out across Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz Regional States, as well as in Addis Ababa through engagement with national political parties. The project’s overarching aim is to encourage political institutions to adopt more inclusive approaches, practices and take actionable steps toward increasing diversity in political participation, particularly for women and persons with disabilities. In collaboration with Demo Finland, NEWA is dedicated to advancing an inclusive, multi-party democratic system in Ethiopia. As part of this commitment, NEWA organized an Awareness Creation Training for Media Outlets focused on international, continental, and national legal frameworks governing the political rights of women and persons with disabilities. The training session, held from 23-24 June 2025 at Robi Hotel in Adama, and brought together 40 female participants representing various media houses. From the total participants two of them (5%) were women with disabilities. Objectives of the training included: Enhancing participants’ understanding of legal frameworks that safeguard the political rights of women and persons with disabilities at international, regional, and national levels Promoting media coverage that accurately and inclusively addresses political issues affecting women and persons with disabilities Shifting perceptions and behaviors within media institutions to better recognize and support the role of women and persons with disabilities as political decision-makers Key training topics covered: Foundational principles of political participation for women and persons with disabilities The current political status and representation of these groups in Ethiopia International conventions ratified by Ethiopia concerning political inclusion Continental legal instruments adopted by the country related to rights and participation National legislative provisions advancing the political rights o marginalized groups Strategic pathways to strengthen inclusive political participation going forward