Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s persistent insecurity and the risk of broader escalation into national and regional conflict threaten to deepen gendered-harms stemming from conflict, impunity, economic instability, displacement, and political repression. Domestic and regional tensions, including between the government and armed groups, friction between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and potential spillover from Sudan—including the influx of thousands of refugees—further compound protection risks for women and girls. Meanwhile, cuts to foreign aid have severely impacted civil society organizations in the country, which has disrupted access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and support services for survivors of gender-based violence, while worsening malnutrition and food insecurity.  

In areas such as Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, women and girls have endured horrific  sexual violence without adequate access to medical care, humanitarian assistance, psychosocial support, or justice. Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence often face severe social stigma and struggle to obtain proper healthcare, leaving many to cope with lasting physical consequences, including infection, infertility, and psychological trauma. 

Ethiopian women continue to demonstrate remarkable courage in leading grassroots movements—such as the 2019 #Yikono campaign against sexual harassment and demonstrations for food aid and peace in Tigray—they continue to face repression and harassment. Despite overlapping threats, women and girls continue to advance grassroots advocacy and response, providing services to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and driving climate resilience and adaptation efforts. At the national level, representation is approaching parity with women holding approximately 42 percent of seats. However, parliamentary representation has not been translated to meaningful political influence— including in formal peace negotiations—given social and structural barriers. The 2026 elections were held in an increasingly restrictive civic space, while women remained underrepresented among candidates and within political party leadership, reflecting persistent obstacles to full participation in political decision-making.

Renewed fighting in Tigray, alongside conflict in Amhara and Oromia, is driving displacement and heightening protection risks for women and girls in Ethiopia. Tensions in Tigray remain high amid unresolved disputes over territory, stalled implementation of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, desire for political power, and lack of accountability for past abuses, including widespread gender-based harms. Displaced women and female-headed households face increased risks of gender-based violence and exploitation, while insecurity and attacks on humanitarian personnel continue to constrain access to essential assistance in some regions.

The risk of large-scale resurgence of conflict in Tigray reflects a broader deterioration in security across the Horn of Africa, where conflicts and political tensions are increasingly interconnected. Ethiopia is impacted by the war in Sudan, with refugees, arms, and armed groups flowing into the country, coupled with growing instability in neighboring countries. These dynamics risk further straining humanitarian resources across a region already experiencing the world’s largest displacement crisis. Meanwhile, Ethiopians fleeing violence at home now comprise the majority of migrants arriving in Yemen, where renewed fighting, severe shortages of aid, and gender-based restrictions—particularly in Houthi-controlled areas—leave female migrants at heightened risk of gender-based harms.

Ethiopia’s June 2026 elections—which saw Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s Prosperity Party win a majority—took place amid increasing restrictions on independent media and civil society, with authorities detaining journalists, revoking media licenses, and expanding government control over the media landscape. Voting was not held in the region of Tigray, with the electoral board citing “unfavourable conditions.” The narrowing space for independent political expression also constrains opportunities for women to participate in public life; women accounted for nearly 46 percent of registered voters but remained underrepresented among candidates. Persistent structural barriers to women’s political participation, compounded by the narrowing of civic space, limit women’s ability to meaningfully participate in political decision-making and peace and security processes.

Attacks on health facilities, ambulances, and health workers continue across conflict-affected regions, further weakening Ethiopia’s already fragile health system. A 2026 assessment found that 63.5 percent of surveyed health workers reported attacks on ambulances, 57 percent reported armed takeovers of health facilities, and 28 percent reported being personally targeted or experiencing violence because of their work. The continued destruction and disruption of health services threatens access to essential care for women and girls, particularly in rural, conflict-affected and displaced communities, while impunity for attacks on health care risks further undermining civilian protection.

Ethiopia’s National Bank has expanded efforts to measure and improve women’s financial inclusion, with its second Women’s Financial Inclusion Scorecard finding that nearly two-thirds of the country’s 32 banks improved their performance across women’s leadership and employment, use of financial products, and financial innovation. The initiative provides an opportunity to identify persistent barriers and expand women’s access to finance and participation in the formal economy. However, women remain underrepresented in senior positions across the banking sector, and gaps in access to financial services remain. At the same time, renewed violence and persistent insecurity are likely to undermine progress in conflict-affected areas of the country.