People before Profit: why urgent action is needed to hold businesses accountable for respecting human rights

As the role and size of the private sector in Ethiopia continues to grow, human rights abuses resulting from business activities are on the increase, including in the garment and textile industry. The overwhelming majority of employees in this sector are women, and many are vulnerable to exploitation in the form of low wages, poor working conditions, sexual harassment and abuse. The research findings summarised in this policy brief demonstrate the need for the Government of Ethiopia to urgently scale up action to hold corporations to account for their impact on human rights and prioritise people over profits.