Intimate Partner Violence: Factors that Influence Court Decisions in Addis Ababa City Administration

Abstract

The judiciary, due to its pivotal position, has the potential to play a crucial role in safeguarding women from intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite this, there exists a lack of research on the adjudication of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) cases in Ethiopia. This article aims to identify the factors that influence the decision-making process and the final judgments delivered by the judiciary in IPVAW cases within the Addis Ababa City Administration. A qualitative research method was employed as a general research approach to gather data from purposively selected victims/survivors and duty-bearers within the purposively selected sub-cities of Addis Ababa. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, courtroom observations, and court case analysis. The research revealed that various legal, institutional, social, and cultural frameworks present in the study area significantly impact the adjudication of IPVAW cases. These can be categorized into factors directly related to the legal framework of the country and those that go beyond the black letters of the law. The findings suggest the need for a multi-faceted approach to address these factors, including strengthening the legal framework of the country, providing capacity-building training for actors, and raising public awareness about the gravity of the act.