Communication 341/07 - Equality Now vEthiopia 103. More importantly, the amicable settlement negotiations were terminated effectively in 2012 on the ground that the Respondent State had failed to respond to proposals which could have formed a written settlement agreement. There had been no further negotiations between the victim, or Equality Now as her only legal representation, and the Respondent State. As a result, no settlement agreement was reached. 104. Further, the Respondent State does not produce any proof of the measures it purportedly took to remedy the violations. In particular, the Respondent State does not produce evidence of the title deed for the house and evidence of its delivery. Similarly there is no documentary proof of the removal of the judge who overturned the convictions and sentences. There is also no proof of adequate and additional compensation that would adequately fund the victim's education and training to enable her live a dignified life. Moreover the employment of the victim as a financial ledger keeper was inapt for her career preference which is in law. The Respondent State does not also produce any evidence of measures taken to bring the prosecutor and the actual perpetrators to account. Additionally, the Complainant states that the victim has actually had to leave the country and seek asylum somewhere owing to threats she received from an official of the Respondent State's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 105. Furthermore, the Complainant observes that the Respondent State neither denies that the victim was abducted and raped when she was 13 years old, nor negates the assertion that it failed to provide remedies. The Complainant submits that both of these constitute violations of the victim's rights under Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(1) and 18(3) of the Charter. 106. Lastly, the Complainant states that the Charities and Societies Proclamation is still in force and being used to interfere with activities of civil society. For example, on 3 September 2014 the police abruptly halted the showing of a film documentary about another girl who had also been a victim of abduction and rape. Similarly, the director of EWLA who participated in the aborted amicable settlement negotiations in the present Communication was intimidated and has had to seek asylum in another country. In light of the foregoing, the Complainant reiterates the prayers advanced in its initial merit submissions. The Commission's Analysis on the Merits 107. This Communication concern's one of the most repugnant traditional practices: forced marriage by abduction coupled with rape. It is a practice that draws stark parallels with a proverbial ancient past when a man would hunt down the female of his choice, slug her over the head with a club, drag her bv the hair td-his 4s '5?%»IN6^5

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