A/HRC/4/9/Add.3 page 2 Summary The independent expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall visited Ethiopia from 28 November to 12 December 2006, in pursuance of her mandate. During her visit, she held numerous consultations in Addis Ababa, and undertook a visit to the Gambella region. She met with senior government officials at both the federal and state level, with civil society, academics and members of political opposition groups, with students, and with members of minority communities themselves. She held discussion forums, including with women from ethnic groups affected by conflict in the Gambella region. The Constitution of Ethiopia provides a comprehensive foundation for rights, freedoms, and equality. It offers a significant departure from the political visions of previous Governments, in which a single ethnic group dominated all others. The current constitutional scheme brings to the fore the civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights of the diverse “nations, nationalities and peoples” of Ethiopia. The rights of all ethnic communities to political representation in federal structures are established via the House of Federation, in which each ethnic group is guaranteed a seat. However, in some fundamental respects the true promise of the Constitution - equal and effective participation of members of minority ethnic groups within a system of democratic decision-making - remains unfulfilled. Self-determination is provided for in the creation of nine ethnically-based regional states of the federation, with the right to draft regional constitutions, to promulgate laws, to establish and administer government functions and to secede. The system has enabled the use of minority languages, as official languages of the regional states, to be used in public education and by regional governmental institutions. Ethnically-based federalism has served, however, to politicize ethnicity as the most salient individual and group marker, leading to new arenas, dynamics and dimensions of ethnic division, discrimination and exclusion. Crucial checks and balances are required to ensure the democratic functioning of the federal system and to guarantee the rights of highly disadvantaged communities experiencing political, social and economic inequality. Continuing ethnic conflicts, often caused by land, water and resource issues, or due to political factors, are damaging prospects of regional stability, and a unified, democratic and prosperous Ethiopia. Concerted conflict prevention and resolution efforts are required, but to date have been inadequate. Minority communities that are discriminated against, excluded and marginalized are frequently victims of conflict, may be forcibly displaced from their traditional territories and lack opportunities and capacity to promote and protect their rights. Some communities, including pastoralist groups, face severe survival issues, extreme poverty and food and water insecurity on a daily basis. Some of the smallest communities in Ethiopia may disappear as distinct groups, due to environmental, social and political pressures and processes of assimilation.