Ethiopia is also host to a sizeable population of internally displaced persons and about 900,000 refugees, among whom 60 per cent were children. It is also a place of origin, transit, and destination for children on the move.
Child protection in numbers
3 per cent of children under 5 years have their births registered
Median age of women at first marriage is 17.1
65 percent of women aged 15-49 years have undergone FGM/C
23 percent of women aged 15-49 years have experienced physical violence
It is the situation where by a minor child is entrusted to the care of a parent who will from then on have the right to determine how the child is raised.
Custody may be awarded either to the father or the mother, whoever is found more capable. However, concerning children below the age of five, article 681(2) of the repealed family section of the civil code is applicable, customarily, and grants the mother sole custody unless she is found to be grossly incompetent.
Despite the importance of child custody, the current law gives it very little regard. There is only one article in the Revised Family Code that deals with child custody and it is very general one.
