Woineshet Zebene
Encyclopedia
Woineshet Zebene Negash, also known as Woineshet Zebene, is a rape
victim whose case was responsible for a change in Ethiopian law. She was the first Ethiopian ever legally to challenge a bridal abduction.
Traditionally in rural Ethiopia, if a man wants to marry a woman but does not have the money to pay a bride price for her, he kidnaps and rapes her, after which she is expected to marry him because she is considered "ruined" and will probably be unable to find anyone else willing to marry her.
When Woineshet was 13 she was kidnapped and raped. The leader of the men who participated in this (Aberew Jemma Negussi) was briefly arrested, but then released on bail, at which point he kidnapped Woineshet again and held her for over a month until she managed to escape, but only after he had forced her to sign a marriage certificate
. At this time, Ethiopian law stated that a man could not be charged with rape if he married the victim.
On July 22, 2003, Aberew Jemma Negussie was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment without parole for kidnapping and rape, and his four accomplices were each sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment without parole, making Woineshet's case the first case in which accomplices were also charged and convicted for kidnapping. However, just four months later, on December 4, 2003, the High Court of the Arsi Zone
sitting on appeal overturned the decision of the lower court and released the five men from prison.
On May 9, 2005 the new Ethiopian Penal Code came into effect, which removed the marital exemption for kidnapping and rape, largely due to a campaign by Equality Now
inspired by Woineshet's case.
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
victim whose case was responsible for a change in Ethiopian law. She was the first Ethiopian ever legally to challenge a bridal abduction.
Traditionally in rural Ethiopia, if a man wants to marry a woman but does not have the money to pay a bride price for her, he kidnaps and rapes her, after which she is expected to marry him because she is considered "ruined" and will probably be unable to find anyone else willing to marry her.
When Woineshet was 13 she was kidnapped and raped. The leader of the men who participated in this (Aberew Jemma Negussi) was briefly arrested, but then released on bail, at which point he kidnapped Woineshet again and held her for over a month until she managed to escape, but only after he had forced her to sign a marriage certificate
. At this time, Ethiopian law stated that a man could not be charged with rape if he married the victim.
On July 22, 2003, Aberew Jemma Negussie was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment without parole for kidnapping and rape, and his four accomplices were each sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment without parole, making Woineshet's case the first case in which accomplices were also charged and convicted for kidnapping. However, just four months later, on December 4, 2003, the High Court of the Arsi Zone
Arsi Zone
Arsi is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. Arsi is also the name of a former province. Both the Zone and the former province are named after a subgroup of the Oromo, who inhabit both...
sitting on appeal overturned the decision of the lower court and released the five men from prison.
On May 9, 2005 the new Ethiopian Penal Code came into effect, which removed the marital exemption for kidnapping and rape, largely due to a campaign by Equality Now
Equality Now
Equality Now is a non-governmental organization founded in 1992 whose stated purpose is to protect the human rights of women around the world. The group provides an international framework for spreading awareness of issues and providing support to local grassroots groups working to address issues...
inspired by Woineshet's case.