Proclamation No. 1410/2018 on Criminal Procedure and Evidence, which replaces the Criminal Procedure Law, which has been in use for more than 60 years, on March 24, 20...

Proclamation No. 1410/2018 on March 24, 2018 became the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Law, which replaces the Criminal Procedure Law that has been in use for more than 60 years. Approved by the House of Representatives! In the past years of reform, extensive legal and institutional reforms have been made to ensure constitutionality, expand the protection of rights and establish the rule of law, and one of the key laws identified in this process is the Criminal Procedure Code. The Criminal Procedure Code of 1954 has been in force for several decades, so it has been removed from the E.F.D.R. Constitution and criminal justice policy, as well as new practices and technological developments in the field at the global level, it is necessary to revise it in accordance with the times, so a new law has been prepared in the past years. The much-deliberated set of laws introducing new practices; Criminal investigation, prosecution and evidence system is moving into a new phase. The House of People's Representatives has adopted the new Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code as Proclamation No. 1410/2026. Over the past eight years, the Government of Ethiopia has undertaken a wide range of legal and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening constitutionality, enhancing the protection of rights, and consolidating the rule of law. Reform of the Criminal Procedure Code was identified as a key priority within this broader reform agenda. The previous Criminal Procedure Code of 1961, which had been in force for more than half a century, had become outdated. Comprehensive revision was therefore necessary to align it with the FDRE Constitution, the Criminal Justice Policy, and recent international developments, as well as to accommodate new processes and technologies. The newly adopted Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code is the result of extensive consultations conducted over several years. It marks a significant milestone in reforming the criminal justice system, introducing comprehensive rules of evidence and addressing gaps in criminal investigation and prosecution. #EthiopiaDelivers #PMOEthiopia