The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced the lifting of the suspension on four civil society organizations (CSOs) following successful advocacy efforts to restore their operational status. This development comes after a series of suspensions initiated by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in November 2024.

Initially, the ACSO suspended the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). Although these organizations had their suspensions lifted in December 2024, the ACSO later extended suspensions to include CARD, LHR, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC).

In a press release dated December 27, 2024, the EHRC expressed concerns regarding the negative impact of these suspensions on civic space and freedom of association within the country. In response, the Commission conducted an investigation into the suspensions and shared its findings and recommendations with relevant stakeholders.