“EWLA has been a shoulder to cry on”

Nunu* is an Ethiopian woman, living in the Oroma region. After two life-changing events in a short space of time, Nunu needed support for herself and her five children. Here is where Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) came in.  

A sudden change

“A few years ago, in 2020, I was involved in an incident where a negligent driver hit me and another person. The other person died, and I sustained injuries on my legs which meant I was not able to walk and I needed to use a wheelchair.  

Not long after the accident, I lost my husband.  

I have five children and their ages range from nine to five years, which means they need a lot of care and attention. Four of them go to school but the youngest stays at home with me.  

Before the accident happened, I used to work in government offices, as a secretary at civil service. I had to leave my job because I was under bed rest advised by my doctor. Now, I am not physically capable to go to work. 

When he was alive, my husband used to cover our expenses but after he died, it’s solely on me to provide for my children. Now, I am not able to cover home expenses because they are very expensive. I feel very drained mentally and physically because I continue to be in a lot of pain and I still can’t work for now. 

It turned out that the negligent driver is a government official who doesn’t care what happened to me and has tried to buy his way out of this court case.”

Finding a community in EWLA 

“While staying at home, a journalist visited me and interviewed me for my side of the story. I shared with him everything that transpired. and that’s when he introduced me to a legal advisor who referred me to Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). 

Before this, I had no knowledge of EWLA. He told me that EWLA might be able to support me in civil procedural law, so that I could get compensation for what happened to me.” 

And this is exactly what happened for Nunu. 

“Since the accident happened in Oroma region, the EWLA offices there provided me with a lawyer from the region and that’s how we go to court. At first, I couldn’t attend the court because I was bedridden, but my lawyer asked me different kinds of questions and asked me to share any pieces of evidence, which I did. I would then follow up the case over a phone call and later on, after getting better, we attended the court together.”

Justice and hope  

“I have won the court case and have been awarded about $27,900 USD but I have yet to get my money. Since the court order, the accused has not agreed to pay this compensation, claiming he doesn’t have the money.  

The negligent driver is a high government official, so he was able to shut off police officers with his money. Due to this, he didn’t get the full criminal charges. He was only jailed for 13 days and released. But then, in the civil process, he had to work with EWLA’s lawyer who he tried to bribe not only once but twice. I’m so confident about this organisation because the lawyer refused the bribe, and I know if it had been another lawyer, he might have succeeded. 

EWLA has been very helpful through legal representation, but the court process needs a high budget. I have spent a lot on newspaper translation, transportation, and written documents. My clinical evidence needed to be translated as well. I’m financially struggling. I was able to make this payment with the help of a family and the neighbours.  It would have been a relief if EWLA also got funds to cover these extra costs for the women they represent in Ethiopia. 

EWLA has been a shoulder to cry on. I can now get my compensation and I’m able to follow my case on my own now. The lawyer has also been very kind to me, so I’m thankful.” 

*Nunu is using a pseudonym to protect her identity 

Ethiopian Women Lawyer’s Association is a Womankind partner and receipient of a Strategic Partner Support Grant.