The Challenges to the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence in Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Domestic violence against women is one of the scourge and pervasive violence directed against women by their; current or former husband, current or former boyfriends and other friends who has sexual relation with the women. It has numerous and devastating physical and psychological consequences for the victim. Victims of domestic violence experience both short-term and long-lasting health outcomes including death, grave physical injury, reproductive health, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, depression and suicidal behavior. However, despite of its devastating consequence, its prevalence is very high and the problems are socially condoned in Ethiopia and specifically in Jimma zone. This clearly indicates that the protection of women against domestic violence in the Jimma zone has been not succeeded which manifests the existence of challenges and obstacles. Hence, the aim of this article is to identify the challenges to the protection of women against domestic violence. To this end, the Ethiopian policy and laws regarding domestic violence are analyzed, the practical commitments of law enforcement authority of Jimma zone and socio-cultural and religious of Jimma zone community are evaluated in lights of the rights to women against domestic violence. Accordingly, the research identifies different challenges to the protection of women against domestic violence in Jimma zone which includes; legal gap, practical challenges, socio-cultural, socio-economic and religious challenges dominantly. Therefore, unless, take action upon the identified challenges, the women’s human rights will continuously to be violated. Hence, lastly to this end, the researcher arrived at the set of recommendations. Keywords: Domestic violence against women, the challenges, Laws and policy, Ethiopia, Jimma Zone, Law enforcement authority, socio-cultural, legal instruments. DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/55-04 Publication date:May 31st 201