I. Introduction At the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held in Niamey, Niger, the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, (SRP) Commissioner Dr. Vera Chirwa held discussions with the government delegates from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) to explore the possibility of a visit to the country. At the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Commission held in Banjul, The Gambia, the FDRE made an open invitation to the Special Rapporteur to visit Ethiopia at any time. In consultation with the government of Ethiopia, a mission was scheduled for 15 – 29 March 2004. The mission falls within the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to monitor prisons and other places of detention in Member States of the African Union and make appropriate recommendations on how to enhance the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. The Special Rapporteur was accompanied to the Mission by Mr. Robert Wundeh Eno, Assistant to the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa. On Monday 15 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur held talks with government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Information to brief them about the mission. On 16 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur held a Press Conference at the Siemen Hotel in Addis Ababa to inform the general public about the mission and urged individuals and institutions that had suggestions to make on how to ensure a successful mission, to come forward. The Special Rapporteur visited and inspected nine prisons, two prison farms and two police stations in five regions of the country. These included – • • • • • • • • • • • • • Addis Ababa Prison Kaliti Prison Ziway Prison Awasa Prison Arba Minch Prison Adama Prison Dippo Prison Dire Dawa Prison Harar Prison Ziway Prison Farm Arba Minch Prison Farm Awasa Woreda Police Station Adama Woreda I Police Station 6 Report of the Mission of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons to Ethiopia 15 – 29 March 2004