Ethiopia: Information about arranged marriages in Ethiopia, whether they are common amongst Muslim women, and whether there is any state protection for victims of arranged marriages
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH28501.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Information about arranged marriages in Ethiopia, whether they are common amongst Muslim women, and whether there is any state protection for victims of arranged marriages, 1 December 1997, ETH28501.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace44c.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a 13 May 1997 Africa News report, six Afari girls committed suicide in Gewane Woreda community in the eastern region in protest against abusuma, a traditional marriage under which cousins are forced to marry each other. Africa News further reports that abusuma is practised through the Afar region including Gewane. Apparently, girls as young as 15 years old are forced to marry men as old as 80 years (ibid.).
A 31 October 1995 Reuters report states that there was "an alarming decline" of the number of high school girls in some parts of Ethiopia due to abductions for the purpose of forced marriages. Consequently, some parents preferred to keep them from schools rather than have them abducted. The report further states that "forced marriage following abduction is not uncommon in rural Ethiopia, and is practised by men who find conventional marriage and dowry payments too expensive" (ibid.).
Information on state protection for victims of such marriages and whether they are common amongst Muslim women could not be found among the sources currently available to the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa News. 13 May 1997. "Ethiopia: Sic Girls Commit Suicide Defying Traditional Marriages." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 31 October 1995. "Ethiopian Female Students Victims of Abduction." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997.
The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1996. 37th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1996.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1996, 1997.
Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. Bimonthly.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1996-1997.
New African [London]. Monthly.
West Africa [London]. Weekly.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, World News Connection (WNC).
Three oral sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.
