Constitutional Protection of Privacy during Search and Seizure Under the Ethiopian Criminal Procedure Laws

Abstract

The right to privacy is fundamental right, essential autonomy and the protection of human dignity serving as the foundation up on which many other human rights are built. Different international and national law protects privacy through legislation. The birth of FDRE constitution is viewed as the most important events for the establishment of democracy. The right to privacy and other similar fundamental human rights are granted by this constitution. Any law, customary practice or decision of an organ of state which contravenes this constitution shall be of no effect. Criminal code of Ethiopia, anti-terrorism proclamation and anti-corruption proclamation are laws which have a mandate of search and seizure through restricting privacy. These laws stipulate the condition of search and seizure which are inconsistence with the constitution and over restrict privacy. Our laws on search and seizure are legally in line with international trends. the law related to search and seizure is complex but not impossible to understand. The concerned organ to search and seizure should be need training and knowing the law to respect individual protection of privacy during search and seizure.