COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF CRIME: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ETHIOPIAN LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in Africa. Ethiopia does not have a comprehensive legislation dealing with compensation to the victims of crime. Nevertheless, the concept of compensation has place under Ethiopian Criminal Justice System tracing back to the introduction of to the ‘Fetha Negest’ (Laws of Kings), 1540 A.D. However, in the current criminal laws, the victims of crime are overlooked and lost attention.  Ethiopia did not recognize state fund to compensate the victims of crime. The existing Criminal laws of Ethiopia allowed the victims of crime to bring civil suit against the offender. However, if the offender’s identity is unknown or if the law enforcement agencies are unable to detect the offender or the offender has not been charged and convicted, there is no compensation available to the victim of crime. Even if the victim is succeeded to receive a compensation order after going through all procedural hurdles placed in front of him, he may not be able obtain compensation if the offender does not have economic means to pay the compensation.  In this paper, the author thoroughly explains the existing laws relating with compensation to the victims of crime and highlights the gaps and inbuilt weaknesses. The paper also offers proper measures to be taken to ensure effective protection of the rights’ of the victims of crime.