Community Justice Centres (CJCs) in Ethiopia represent a transformative approach to delivering justice, blending traditional practices with the formal legal system. As an innovative alternative dispute resolution mechanism, CJCs are helping to reduce the burden on conventional courts and emphasise cultural values and governance deeply rooted within local communities.
Together with the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice and our partner Destiny Ethiopia, we are proud to announce the recent inauguration of Community Justice Centres (CJCs) across three regional states in Ethiopia (Afar, Sidama, and Addis Ababa). Blending traditional practices with the formal legal system, CJCs represent a transformative approach to delivering justice.
This cooperative approach demonstrates a scalable model of localised, accessible justice. By integrating the wisdom of traditional systems—such as the council of village elders—with more formal judicial processes such as case referrals, the CJCs are designed to reduce the burden on conventional courts while upholding cultural values and community harmony.
By promoting alternative dispute resolution methods and strengthening community trust in the justice system, CJCs are set to play a crucial role in Ethiopia’s justice landscape.
In the Sidama community, this system is widely respected for its fairness and effectiveness, contributing significantly to peacebuilding and social harmony. The collective effort underscores the importance of community engagement in the justice process.
“With support from HiiL, we are training the elders and community leaders and are providing the necessary logistical support”, said Mr. Mato Maru, Head of Sidama Region Bureau of Justice. “The opportunity to make this innovation work in practice at the regional state level is very welcome”.
In Addis Ababa, a recent coordination meeting led by State Minister H.E Dr. Ermias Yemanebirhan brought together stakeholders and justice providers from across the justice sector, where they reiterated their roles and responsibilities in supporting CJCs.
“This initiative enhances access to justice while working in collaboration with formal courts and ensuring the protection of women’s and minority rights”, said Dr. Ermias.
The coordination meeting also spotlighted the potential for expanding this initiative to other sub-cities and regions, aiming to replicate the model and its success across Ethiopia. Dr. Ermias highlighted the government’s support, stating, “The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is committed to recognising customary courts, developing appropriate laws, regulations, and institutions to support them”. His statement emphasised the MOJ’s approach to integrating traditional judicial mechanisms within the broader legal framework.
The Addis Ababa coordination meeting concluded with an endorsement for continued collaboration. This includes a call to enhance the capacity and resources of the centres and a need for legal recognition, ensuring their sustainability and wider adoption.
“The Pilots are ready—now it’s time to implement, record, monitor, and evaluate”, added Dr. Ermias. “CJCs must remain community-centred and informal, and not be buried in bureaucracy”.
Our collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia and Destiny Ethiopia reinforces HiiL’s commitment to supporting people-centred justice programming and fostering sustainable justice solutions that respect cultural heritage while addressing contemporary justice needs.
Further Reading
- Breaking New Ground in Ethiopia: Community Justice Centre Launched in Afar
- Ethiopian Land Justice Guidelines
- Justice Needs and Satisfaction of Refugees in Ethiopia
