Absence of public open spaces violates right to the city - Ayele

Dr Zemelak Ayitenew Ayele, a former post-doctoral fellow, at the Dullah Omar Institute recently published an opinion article on an Ethiopian newspaper, focusing on public open spaces and our rights to our cities. He argues that the creation of industrial, commercial, or residential areas in and of itself is not problematic. It goes without saying that we need economic development and that our cities have immense contribution to make in this respect, he points out.

Ayele goes on to say public open spaces may include green open spaces - such as green areas, public playgrounds and parks – or non-green public spaces – including squares and open areas of public facilities. “They are meant for recreational, aesthetical, and ecological purposes and that the public is entitled to have free access to them. They are often protected by law and cannot be occupied or – through infrastructural, residential or other developments – changed.”

He is currently Assistant Professor at the Center for Federal Studies, Addis Ababa University.