Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA)

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) is a non-profit, non-partisan civil society organization founded in 1995 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, dedicated to protecting and promoting the legal, economic, social, and political rights of women.

Mission and Objectives

• Promote Equality: Eliminate legal, traditional, and societal discrimination against women to secure equal rights under the Ethiopian Constitution and international conventions.
• Access to Justice: Provide free legal assistance and representation for disadvantaged women and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
• Policy Influence: Reform gender-insensitive laws and advocate for protective legislation, including revisions to family and criminal codes.

Core Programs

• Free Legal Aid Services: Delivers legal counseling, drafting of court pleadings, and direct courtroom representation for vulnerable women and GBV survivors.
• Multilingual Helpline: Operates a toll-free hotline (7711) providing accessible legal support in Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Tigrigna.