By some estimates, 70Pct of women experience abuse in their lifetime. The ordeal may leave some women and their children traumatised and feeling isolated, which can lead to long-term physical and mental anguish. Safe houses, also known as sanctuaries, were designed to provide these women and their children a safe place to receive shelter, food and counselling services to help them recover from the trauma they’ve experienced. EBR’s Meseret Mamo visited two sanctuaries and spoke with stakeholders to understand how the centres work to help women and children abuse survivors.

Ethiopia has made great strides in combating HIV and AIDS over the last decade. According to the World Health Organisation, new HIV infections declined by 90Pct and AIDS-related deaths by 53Pct between 2000 and 2011. Other important figures, like the rate of transmission and number of newly infected individuals, have also decreased substantially since 2000. These achievements, however, have resulted in decreased funding from international donors like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and The Global Fund, which come mainly from the United States. According to some officials, the decreased prevalence of the virus has also contributed to a more lax attitude with regard to HIV among younger people who don’t view the virus as a substantial threat to their livelihoods. These dynamics worry many officials that the country may witness a resurgence of the virus in certain demographics. EBR’s adjunct staff writer Meseret Mamo explores the issue further and offers this report.

For Addis Ababa residents, it’s not uncommon to witness leaking sewers or waste accumulating in open ditches throughout the city. While these issues contribute to poor aesthetics in the city, they also beget a number of public health concerns. Despite the strides Ethiopia has made in improving access to sanitation, the country fell short of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) that were set: improving access to 28Pct instead of the goal of 52Pct. To that end, the government is working to make the situation better, especially in Addis Ababa. EBR’s Meseret Mamo spoke with Addis Ababa residents about their experiences with poor sanitation and city officials to learn more about what’s being done to improve the livelihoods of those most affected by this public health matter.

Is Ethiopia Addressing the Special Needs of Juvenile Offenders?

Like many sub-Saharan African nations, Ethiopia provides some special treatment for juvenile offenders. The logic behind the provision of special treatment is rooted in the idea that young offenders should be given rehabilitation in order to improve their well-being and hopefully deter them from committing crimes in the future. However, many stakeholders argue that the problems facing teenage offenders extend beyond a mere desire to do bad things – that they’re linked to larger problems like homelessness, cyclical poverty, and whether or not they have attentive parents. EBR’s Meseret Mamo visited the Juvenile Delinquent Remand and Correction Centre, Ethiopia’s sole facility to address the needs of this population, to speak with key individuals involved in the juvenile justice system for this report.