The Realization Of The Right To Health Of Children In Street Situations In Jimma Town, Ethiopia: Law And Practice

Abstract

This thesis examines the international human rights instruments, Ethiopian legal frameworks and the practical implementations regarding the realization of the right to health of children in street situations. It also examines what impact these frameworks have in practice, adequacy of measures taken by government to realize it, challenges against the realization of the right to health of children in street situations in Jimma Town, Ethiopia and it ultimately forward possible solutions in this regard. Accordingly, data are collected through interviews from sample children in street situations and concerned government organs. Analysis of data and information collected are made with respect to obligations that Ethiopia has undertaken internationally and nationally. Accordingly, the finding reveals that children in street situations are living in a terrible and inhumane conditions, inter alia, shelter problem, and lack of access to adequate food, water and sanitation facilities and inaccessibility healthcare facilities, services and goods are found to be the major underlying determinants that create negative impact on the realization of the right to health of children in street situations. Some children had access to primary healthcare, but it has often been either due to a parent, a compassionate stranger or luck or not due to an efficient government plan or policy that originates from international human rights law and national legislation. Additionally, international human rights instruments that Ethiopia has ratified and respective compliance mechanisms of the international instruments examined indicates how state parties are to implement its obligations with regard to the realizations of the right to health of children in street situations in order to protect them in a sufficient and effective way. The first step that has to be taken to realize human rights by states is recognizing it explicitly in a constitution and other legislative acts. However, the right to health is not explicitly incorporated in Ethiopian constitution, neither are there any other legislative acts that reflect its underlying determinants of health. Rather, it is merely addressed through policies. Generally, this research reveals government of Ethiopia fails to realize the right to health of children in street situations.