Our Story

Lidya Girma, Co-founder

Rihana Jemal, Co-founder

Lidya Girma and Rihana Jemal are the co-founder for Maya Children’s Right Center (MCRC). Both Lidiya and Rihana are law graduates from Addis Ababa University. While we were collecting data at a Juvenile rehabilitation center, we witnessed severe violations of the basic human rights and needs of the children. This experience deeply affected us, prompting us to co-found a CSO dedicated to Children's Rights. Together, we embarked on a mission to advocate for improved conditions and rights for these children.

Lidiya had the privilege of engaging in various socio-legal issues that have not only shaped but also solidified her belief in the transformative power of human rights advocacy. She is currently, supporting the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission as an Associate Human Rights Officer. Furthermore, she is assigned to the Office of the Chief Commissioner to support the Commission’s primary duties, including early warning, international and regional engagement, transitional justice, carrying out research, monitoring, data collection, and analysis, by combining both my legal and communications expertise. In addition, she has also worked as a project officer for Governance and Justice Group, a company based in the UK hired by UNDP to assess the Ethiopian justice system. This has improved her ability to lead projects as well as her intensive communication with foreign and domestic partners.

Rihana have developed significant research and analytical skill in international humanitarian law and Human Rights through her academic and professional experiences. She is currently, working as a project officer in Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations in Mala project which mainly focus on girl’s education and peace. Prior to that she has worked as a program assistant at Civil Society Resource Center on which among others supports the work of humanitarian organizations. In addition, she has worked as a program coordinator of Addis Ababa University International Humanitarian law clinic, Intern as Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, project assistant in Governance and Justice group, paralegal at Addis Ababa University Center for Human Right, volunteer legal aid provider at Danish Refugee Council and intern at 5A Jurists consultancy group. Due to her significant research skill, she has written three articles and contributed for the public at large.