Guidance

Ethiopia: information for survivors of rape and sexual assault

Published 10 April 2023

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

This information is provided to help British nationals overseas make informed decisions about whether and how to:

• seek medical advice and attention
• report to local police
• engage with foreign legal authorities following a rape or other form of sexual assault overseas. For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK

First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• contact the local emergency number on 991. English-speaking operators are available
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Staff will be empathetic, non-judgmental and will be able to provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish

If you want to report the incident to the police in Ethiopia

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in an area where there is a British embassy or consulate, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to contact the British Embassy. You may wish to have someone with you who can translate given that the officers you deal with might not speak English. Please see our list of English-speaking translators and interpreters.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained.

Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

Tell the police if you think you have been drugged.

Insist you get a police report, and request a translation in English if applicable.

You can request to speak to a female officer, but may have to speak to a male one if no female officer is available. Cases involving children are usually handled by female officers.

You are not expected to surrender your passport whilst any investigation is carried out.

If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Ethiopia

The British embassy will still be able to help you. This includes helping you to contact your insurance company, your family, making arrangements to travel back to the UK and/or providing you with information on local support in the UK or Ethiopia. They can provide you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators.

If you are travelling with a tour operator you can report the incident to them and ask for assistance. Where possible and if you wish, the tour operator may accompany you to the local hospital. If you wish, and depending on location and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime. If you don’t report it, your case may not be investigated.

If you choose not to report the crime, you will not need to undergo a forensic examination. However, you can still receive medical attention. Please refer to the section titled “Treatment”.

If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you, and your access to justice may vary according to where you report the crime. In many countries, including Ethiopia, you need to report the crime before you leave the country, if you want it to be investigated and police to obtain important evidence.

If you need help to report the crime you can contact the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, or if you’re in the UK, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London. If you do not report the crime in Ethiopia and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.

The UK police should send the information you provide to the country where the crime happened. However, it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and they may not take action.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in Ethiopia. This might be necessary in order to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed.

Reporting the crime in Ethiopia - what happens next?

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence.

If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts and social media messages. Evidence such as the clothing and underwear you were wearing and other items that the offender has touched will help the police to gather evidence and to build a criminal case.

You will be asked to describe what happened so that immediate action can be taken to identify the alleged offender(s). You may find it helpful to make notes about what happened before making the report, so that you can refer to them during the interview.

Police will send (or take) you to a One Stop Centre for a forensic examination. One Stop Centres, located at various hospitals, also offer medical, practical, and emotional support to victims.

You will be given the police reference number and the contact details of the police officer responsible for the case.

The medical examination – what to expect

Most hospitals and medical centres treat victims of rape and sexual assault. Hospitals are expected to report cases of rape and sexual assault to the local police or refer the victim to the nearest One Stop Centre.

The medical findings may be important evidence if the case goes to court. Therefore, if you want the crime to be investigated you will need to give consent to the doctor at the hospital to share information with the police.

You will have a forensic medical examination as well as tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and, where appropriate, pregnancy. The examination may include taking photographs to document any injuries.

If notified in advance, a consular officer from the British Embassy may be able to accompany you to the hospital. Your tour operator, if you have one, should also be able to do this.

Treatment

It is possible that you may have been exposed to the HIV virus. One Stop Centre healthcare workers will give you advice on Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), a treatment that can prevent HIV replicating in the body and so prevent the virus from attacking the immune system.

HIV PEP medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28-day treatment on return to the UK.

You can purchase emergency contraception at local pharmacies, with a doctor’s prescription.

Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective.

If you have had medication administered overseas, you should keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication, so that you can let your local healthcare provider know when you return home.

Police investigations in Ethiopia – what to expect

Normally you would first speak with an officer at the nearest police station, who will record a criminal complaint. The officer will then refer the case to a criminal investigator, who will be responsible for interviewing you about the assault and conducting the investigation.

Where possible a female officer will be in attendance if the victim is female. Please note that availability of female officers will vary between police station and town.

The police may take you to the scene of the crime, or where you think the attacker(s) is/are located to try to identify them. If a suspect is brought to the police station, you will be asked to make an identification.

After the police conclude their investigations, they will refer the case to a public prosecutor who will decide whether there is enough evidence to take the case to court. You will need to give consent to the police for the case to be taken to court. At that point another interview may be necessary.

Court procedures – what to expect

You will be expected to attend court in order to testify and undergo cross examination from the defence. Court sessions in Ethiopia are normally open to the public, but cases involving rape or sexual assault are sometimes heard in a closed session. In open sessions interested parties (e.g., family and friends of the victim) can follow the case and its progress by attending.

Once a criminal case is initiated, you will have no power to drop the case. Only the public prosecutor has the power to make this decision.

The perpetrator may be able to start civil action on the grounds of false accusation. This may result in them being awarded compensation if successfully proven that there is reputational damage. Our understanding is that such cases are rare.

Trial procedures

Unless the case is rejected on a preliminary objection, the court will inform you there will be a trial after the first hearing. You will be required to provide evidence in person. Testifying remotely, including from the UK, will probably not be possible.

The authorities provide no financial support for travel from aboard or accommodation during the trial.

The entire trial process could take 2 months or longer.

Hiring a lawyer

Victims are not expected to hire a lawyer as it is the public prosecutor who handles the case. Nevertheless, you may still choose to hire a private lawyer. Hired lawyers can make sure that the case is progressing properly, or challenge any unprofessionalism by the police or prosecutor’s office. The British Embassy has a list of English-speaking lawyers in Ethiopia.

Sentencing

Crimes of sexual violence are considered as a serious crime against the person and the public at large. Judges can impose lengthy prison sentences or, in exceptional circumstances, the death penalty depending upon the gravity of the case.

Legal aid

The trial process is handled by the prosecutors appointed by the authorities, not by hired lawyers. Nevertheless, victims are entitled to request legal aid/ pro bono services from lawyers.

Compensation

The courts cannot order the offender to pay compensation for injuries or any other losses after they have been convicted in a criminal court. A local lawyer can, however, file a civil case against them. There is no state-funded compensation scheme to cover physical or psychological injuries suffered as a result of a violent crime.

When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice where you live.

England	NHS Choices website, or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’
Scotland	Archway SARC: phone 0141 211 8175
Wales	New Pathways SARC: phone 01685 379 310; Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Northern Ireland	Rowan SARC Northern Ireland: phone 0800 389 4424

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

For further information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK

Support organisations in Ethiopia

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, these organisations may be able to help you.

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA)

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) assists women, particularly disadvantaged women, who are victims of gender-based violence free of charge. The service includes legal advice/counselling, writing court briefs (court charges and affidavits) as well as representing clients in courts.

Address	Near Bulgaria Mikael Church, Mexico, Kirkos Subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Telephone	+251-11-508783
Email	info@ewla-et.org
Website	https://ewla-et.org/

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by HMG officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither HMG nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (02/02/2022).