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Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 21:17 Written by Administrator Monday, 11 August 2008 06:00

 
Ethiopian Diaspora, US Rights Groups Seek Democratic Progress in Ethiopia

By Nico Colombant

VOA News

Members of the Ethiopian diaspora and U.S. human rights groups want the U.S. government to put pressure on its Horn of Africa ally Ethiopia to implement democratic reform, ahead of parliamentary elections Sunday. But Africa experts say Washington has little leverage to effect change.

Ethiopian-Americans recently marched from the State Department to the White House demanding that U.S. officials put pressure on Ethiopia's government to free opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa.Birtukan, along with other opposition politicians and Ethiopian journalists are currently in jail on allegations of undermining state authority. They aren't able to report or run in Sunday's parliamentary elections. U.S. human rights groups say Ethiopia's government is stifling freedom of speech and oppressing the opposition.Ethiopian-American Hana Haile was one of the protesters in Washington. She says this demonstration would not be possible in Ethiopia."There would be a lot of fear of retaliation against us for this march," she said. "There could be lots of gunshots and lots of deaths. And that's what we want people back home to experience the same as we do here."Ethiopian officials say their democracy is a work in progress and that the elections will be free and fair.Africa expert J. Peter Pham, from the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, says Ethiopia is such an important ally that the U.S. must cooperate with its government, however imperfect."Ethiopia has been an important and pivotal state in the Horn of Africa subregion for many years and all the more so in this particular period of history when we have utter chaos in most of the former Somali state, the prospect of a breakup of Sudan and other tensions in the area with Kenya, with elections coming up."Terrence Lyons, at George Mason University, says the Obama administration has tried to modify the relationship."During the Bush administration, policy toward Ethiopia was very heavily dominated by counter-terrorism concerns," he said. "President Obama, I believe, is trying to re-calibrate the relationship so that human rights, democracy and other issues reach equal status with the counter-terrorism agenda."Lyons says the United States has little leverage in Ethiopia, where China, India and Saudi Arabia have larger business interests.Meanwhile, in front of the White House, human rights activist Chris Flaherty staged a week-long hunger strike, demanding that the U.S. pressure Ethiopia to release Birtukan.He says it takes sacrifice to bring change."You know, your freedom is going to come at a cost and it's going to take tremendous effort," said Flaherty. "People are going to get hurt. People are going to go to jail. People could possibly get killed. But you have to resign yourself that that is going to be the reality."He says demonstrations and sanctions helped topple apartheid in South Africa. And he says that's a good example of what he hopes will happen in Ethiopia.

 

 

 

Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development

The Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development, created by concerned Ethiopian women residing in the United States, believes that the Ethiopian people must be freed from the vicious cycle of poverty,

war, and famine. Without a just peace and stability the country will not develop economically; thus, this vicious cycle of poverty, famine and death will continue. We believe that any effort to help reduce poverty and deal with the endemic health crises will not succeed unless there is peace and democracy in the country.

Throughout history, women around the world have stood for peace, equality, and justice. Ethiopian women have played important roles in the economic, political and social development of their country and have had significant impacts. They have struggled for economic development in the absence of equal opportunity for women. They have created support systems for each other through the traditional forms of organizations such as “mahber “and ‘edir”. It is in their spirit that we have organized the EWPD.

Above: Group Pictures of Partial members of EWPD

The Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD) is a non-governmental organization and is not affiliated with any political organization or group within or outside of Ethiopia. It is a peace and human rights organization. Even though we are an independent organization, we will work with other organizations on issues that are within our goals and mission. Such issues include women’s social, political and economic issues as well as human rights and peace. We will also work with all organizations when they propose peaceful means to resolve the country’s political problems that might bring a lasting peace in Ethiopia.

Following are our positions on issues that relate to peace and development in Ethiopia.

ON PEACE:


We are opposed to war and believe that peaceful means should be used for conflict resolutions and reconciliations. We believe in tolerance for differing views and opinions. We especially urge any circumstances that might lead to armed struggle should be discouraged. To establish a peaceful and stable country, the rights of all people must be respected.

HUMAN RIGHTS:


The Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development uphold the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We also recognize and promote the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, referred to as the Banjul Charter, adopted in 1981. Article 2 of the Banjal Charter specifically stresses the respect of individuals’ rights and freedom as recognized and guaranteed in the Charter regardless of race, ethnic group, color, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or others. In the past, government and political organizations have abused the democratic rights of the Ethiopian people. We aspire for the establishment of a true democratic government that respects the diversity of the Ethiopian people. The Ethiopian people must have unlimited and unrestricted access to information that will help them determine their choice in government. Hence, free speech, press and freedom to organize should not be considered privileges, but fundamental rights.

Equality and Justice:

Everyone in Ethiopia regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity should have an equal right to participate in the political, economic and social development of their country. We believe in the unity of Ethiopia with democracy and equality for all of its citizens.

Similar to many other countries in the world, Ethiopia has oppressed women. We strongly oppose the cultural, economic, and political subjugation of women. EWPD will support organization that try to improve the civil, religious, political, and economic rights of women.

The Ethiopian people have suffered immensely from unjust rules. The constitution of the country should uphold the international laws of human rights and justice. The right to due process of law is fundamental to creating a just and democratic society. The establishment of a just society is the right of all Ethiopian people.

ON DEVELOPMENT:

We strongly believe that Ethiopia has the potential to feed itself and not be a dependent country. Development projects that include women are of special interest to our organization. Accordingly, EWPD will raise funds to help grassroots women’s projects aiming to bring viable economic development to their communities.

EWPD will work with Ethiopian women living in the Washington Metropolitan area by providing information and referral service to empower them with resources to meet their own economic needs and build a strong community. EWPD is committed to matters that will develop and strengthen the Ethiopian community, promote our culture, and enhance the support systems. We feel a strong Ethiopian community, anywhere in the world, is a strong power to foster peace, democracy, and development in Ethiopia.

MEMBERSHIP:

Full membership is open to all Ethiopian women who have attained eighteen years of age and support the purposes of the organization as outlined in its charter. Associate membership is open to male Ethiopians, non-Ethiopian individuals of either gender, families or organizations that support the purposes of the organization as outlined in its charter.

BRANCH ORGANIZATIONS:

Ethiopian women who are members of Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development and who accept the charter of this organization may form a branch organization of EWPD.

EWPD is a non-profit organization established in the District of Columbia in July 1991, under the former name of Ethiopian women for Peace, Development, and Humanitarian Aid (EWPDHA)

 

Address: Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development, EWPD
              5505 Connecticut Avenue, NW
              Washington, DC 20015
Tel: +
Fax: +
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Website: www.vigilforpeace.org

 

 

Ms. Birtukan Mideksa, Political Prisoner
in Ethiopia since December 2008
Ms Mideksa was a former judge and
Chairperson of the CUDJ party.

Please light a virtual candlelight clicking here 

to petition her release. Ethiopian Women
for Peace and Development (EWPD)

 

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