Through education workshops and conferences across the Oromia region of Ethiopia, customary laws are being changed to protect women from human rights abuse.

In the largest region in Ethiopia, Oromia, men and women are working together to overcome practices which have kept women severely disadvantaged in society and subject to human rights abuse. While women's rights are recognised under the Ethiopian constitution and other subsidiary laws, Oromo women have been disadvantaged due to customary laws which have greatly favoured the interests of men.

Traditionally, Oromo women in rural areas have been highly discriminated against. They have had no access or control over resources such as land and property, and have been victims of what is referred to as 'harmful traditional practices'. These include 'widow inheritance' where a man marries a deceased brother's widow. 'Benbeto' where a husband whose wife has died has the right to marry the younger sister of the deceased wife. 'Bidhaa', where a young girl is abducted, raped and forced to marry her attacker. 'Walgara', where men exchange their sisters for marriage. Finally, female genital mutilation, practiced on young girls two to three months before marriage.

For over six years, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad has provided support to our partner HUNDEE to implement projects which seek to promote women's rights through civic education. HUNDEE aims to bring about greater gender equality by creating awareness about women's rights and by protecting women from violence through the eradication of harmful traditional practices which cause bodily and psychological harm to women.

Working in the Aris Nagelle district of Oromia over the last year, HUNDEE mobilised approximately 28,000 men and women to attend four community conferences. During these conferences, facilitators provided education on the Ethiopia Constitution and key national and regional laws which are designed to protect the human rights of women.

At first, some men defended harmful traditional practices on cultural grounds. However, after some time, men were able to acknowledge that such practices were contradictory to the teachings of Islam and authentic Oromo culture.

As a result of the conferences, new customary laws to protect the rights of girls and women have been publicly passed and recited by the custodians of traditional law and clan leaders. Men took the viewpoint that the past cannot be changed, however, a joint effort between all community members would be crucial in ensuring women's protection from human rights abuses.

New customary laws have been drafted to abolish a number of practices including child brides, excessive dowries, female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices.

Based on this experience similar approaches are being independently initiated by communities beyond the original project area.

"A change in customary law is a significant step, as it symbolises a change in the way of thinking within the community," explains Esayas Girma, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad' Ethiopia Program Manager. "HUNDEE will continue to monitor activities in the district to see if the change in law translates to a change in behaviours."