THE IMPACT OF INVESTMENT ON HUMAN RIGHT PROTECTION IN ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN LOWER OMO BASIN AND OMO- KURAZ SUGAR FACTORY

Abstract

The rights and interests of indigenous peoples are evolving in the international law making process. The ILO Convention No.169 and the UNDRIP at the international level are significant on providing essential standards for protection of the human rights of the indigenous peoples. At the same level, there are international investment laws and agreements that have legal effect on states. The controversy is where investment agreements and the investment projects affect indigenous peoples’ human rights, which one should prevail. This issue is unsettled as there is no international law which addresses this contradiction. To assess the contradictions and practical impacts of investment projects specifically the Omo-Kuraz sugar factory on the rights of indigenous peoples of the Lower Omo-river basin, the research was conduct on three different ethnic groups (Nyangatom, Selamago (Bodi) and Dassenach) of the Lower Omo-river. This research employed a survey to examine the impact of investment on the indigenous people’s human rights protection. Extensive interviews have also been conducted with Ethiopian Investment Commission, SNNPR investment Commission, Human Rights Commission, Ethiopian Human Right Council and the officials of the Omo-Kuraz