Ethiopia: Open Letter- A Campaign for Justice and Peace in Ethiopia

To the International Communities and institutions

Dear Sir/Madam:

International Ethiopian Women’s Organization for Peace (IEWOP) is an organization working to bring peace, respect of human rights and security in the life of all Ethiopian women; and it is devoted to further women’s assertive participation in the struggle for women’s rights and economic equality. In this light, International Ethiopian Women’s Organization for Peace (IEWOP) have the honor of presenting to your office our deep concern regarding the widespread abuse and violations of human rights by the current government of Ethiopia, which is a regime that is highly supported by foreign governments and donor institutions. Today in Ethiopia, economic destitute of the mass has increased as millions of people continue to starve, illegal imprisonment and disappearance of many innocent people is continuing and over all, political and human rights are grossly violated across the country which will lead to further disruption and violence if it is allowed to continue.

In general Ethiopian women have been and continue to be the main bearers and victims of all forms of human right violations and injustice including carrying the brunt of war and violence in society. These gross human rights violation and economic depravation are the consequences of political corruption and instability created in the past 19 years by the dictatorial ethnic political system. Today, young women in Ethiopia are forced to live on prostitution or migrate to the Middle East and become victims of modern slavery as they are forced to selling their labor to a sub-human standard with ever increasing danger of constant sexual and physical abuses that culminate in physical and mental disturbances including suicides. The dehumanization and cruelty that Ethiopian women are enduring has been legitimized and sponsored by the current repressive regime in Ethiopia.

IEWOP, therefore, respectfully urge to hold the government of Meles Zenawe accountable for its gross violations of human rights and ongoing widespread repression of citizens, women and children. Hence the time has come for your office to revisit its relation and support for the narrowly ethnic based dictatorial rulers in Ethiopia, who continue to vigorously rob the nation and violate basic human rights. We believe an enlightened support is vital for the creation of a democratic environment whereby Ethiopians can attain peace and stability within the country and with the external surrounding regions. IEWOP believes that it would be mutually beneficial if relation were to be informed by the voices of the people rather than by the regime.

We believe that, given the opportunity women naturally are the bearer of peace and justice for society.

It is in this light, that IEWOP has made it its responsibility to campaign against the violence and degradation of Ethiopian women, the increasing deterioration and declining economic and repressive political state in Ethiopia, in doing so we prepare the ground for peace to reign again.

As part of our campaign we would like to:

1. Open a dialogue with representative of the international communities that are actively helping and hence sustaining the life of the present repressive regime in Ethiopia, and with those who are neutral to be informed of the dire situation in Ethiopia.

2. Remind all those involved in helping the present regime of the grave consequences of their act of enabling and sustaining the life of a political system that makes life unbearable to the vast majority of Ethiopians.

3. Encourage those countries and global communities which are engaged in economic and financial aid to Ethiopia to make independent assessment of the need of the people and avoid becoming an accomplice to the act of Melese Zenawe’s regime brutally robbing the poor and illegally amassing monies of corruption and out right theft.

4. Request your support in financial, technical and moral support to assist us in our quest to stop human trafficking and the subjecting of young Ethiopian women to modern slavery and gross inhuman treatments in Middle East countries in particular.

For peace to be attained justice must prevail.

Thus, respectfully, we urge your government/office to stand with the people of Ethiopia. Withholding your support to the regime and extending it to the people is also a progressive step that will help Ethiopia to achieve peace, and justice and equality for her people. To this end, we call upon you to support IEWOP’s initiative- A Campaign for Peace and Justice in Ethiopia.

International Ethiopian Women’s Organization for Peace

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