Mebrahtom Fitiwi Tesfahunegn is an assistant professor of law at Mekelle University School of Law, where he also completed his graduate and undergraduate studies. He has also participated in the Community Solutions Program (CSP) with special emphasis on women’s rights through the U.S. Department of State and George Mason University. His research interests include women’s and disability rights, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, peace and conflict resolution, and access to justice.
Mebrahtom has worked as a human rights research assistant, human rights officer, Tilburg-Mekelle University Ph.D. program Coordination Unit Coordinator, and Director of Mekelle University Legal Aid Center. He has coordinated and implemented many projects, among which are two European Union-funded projects and a U.S. Department of State-funded project that have had considerable impact on the rights of people with disabilities to education. As a legal aid practitioner, Mehbrahtom has engaged in successful litigation against denial of the right to work and denial of access to education of girls and women with disabilities. As an Echidna scholar, he plans to investigate barriers to education for girls and women with disabilities, coming up with strategic solutions so as to “Leave no girl or woman with disabilities behind in education in Tigray.”