COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
State of Emergency
The Government of Ethiopia declares a nationwide "state of emergency" under Article 93 of the Constitution. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 8 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
State of Emergency
The Regional Council in Tigray declares a State of Emergency on account of the coronavirus. The order prohibits travel within the state, and bans large gatherings.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 26 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Emergency, Movement
Type: order
Ban on Public Gatherings
The Prime Minister issues a ban on all public gatherings on account of the coronavirus. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 20 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: order
Regulation 466 to Implement the State of Emergency Proclamation No. 3/2020
The regulation prohibits meetings for religious, government, social, or political purposes in places of worship, public institutions, hotels, meeting halls or any other place. The regulation also prohibits regional or federal officials from giving statements to members of the press about COVID-19, without first obtaining permission from the federal committee or from sub-committees at regional level; exceptions are made for professional commentary on COVID-19 laws, professional medical explanations, or daily press briefings by the Ministry of Health. The regulation also prohibits disseminating information about COVID-19 and related issues that would cause "terror and undue distress among the public." The regulation requires public communication professionals and media outlets to ensure that information, analysis, or programs on COVID-19 are "without exaggeration, appropriate and not prone to cause panic and terror among the public."
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 20 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: regulation
Regulation No. 3 of 2020 on the Implementation of the State of Emergency Declaration
The Attorney General issued regulations to further define and implement the state of emergency. The regulations prohibit gatherings of more than four people. Under the regulations, spreading information that can cause public confusion or alarm is prohibited. The regulations also require all media professionals to report Covid-related news in a way that is neither exaggerated nor understated, and is not likely to create confusion or alarm. The regulations create a legal duty to report anyone suspected of contracting the virus to the police or Ministry of Health. Violations of these provisions are subject to penalty of up to three years in prison a fine of up to 200,000 Ethiopian Birr ($6,000).
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 8 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Privacy, Access to Information
Type: regulation