Human rights issues and Ethiopia's continuing political crisis were the central focus of a recent conference held in a congressional building in Washington, D.C., where prominent speakers called for heightened awareness, accountability, and international intervention.
Sylvia Stanard, a representative of United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights, emphasized the urgent need for global engagement on the situation in Ethiopia. Stanard discussed the core values enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which all UN countries are obligated to uphold. 'Human rights are not optional — they are universal,' said Stanard. 'The right to life, liberty, security of person, and freedom of thought are being violated daily in Ethiopia. Religious freedom, in particular, is under severe attack, with churches and priests being targeted.' Stanard highlighted the alarming lack of awareness surrounding the crisis, noting the challenges in competing for global attention amidst other high-profile conflicts. She urged the Ethiopian diaspora and allies to take proactive steps in educating policymakers and media outlets. She directed attendees seeking more information about human rights education and the UDHR to www.humanrights.com.
Ato Yilkal Getnet, in his address titled 'Ethnic Federalism and the Crisis in Ethiopia,' argued that the country's political instability stems from its constitutionally enshrined ethnic federalism, which prioritizes ethnic identity over a collective national identity, resulting in political fragmentation and social unrest. 'The constitution's focus on ethnic identity rather than a shared national history has weakened Ethiopia's political and social cohesion,' Getnet explained. 'The Amhara people have suffered the most, with ongoing political repression and harmful narratives.'
Abel Gashe, a leader in Ethiopian American organizations, said, 'Our first objective is to create global awareness about the mass killings and massacres that are happening in Ethiopia. We are here to be the voice for the voiceless. Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are being killed in mass in Arsie and Wollega because of their religious affiliations. In the last two to three months more than fifty Orthodox Christians have been killed. Churches are being burned. The faithful are being massacred while worshipping. What is happening in Ethiopia is religious genocide in which Christians are being killed in mass for being Orthodox.' Gashe called upon the Ethiopian government to defend those being killed for their belief and identity.
Mr. Scott Morgan, head of the International Religious Freedom's Africa Working Group, said, 'It is not just the situations in Syria, Ukraine and Gaza that overshadow the events still allowed to fester in Northern Ethiopia. There is a crisis in Africa that has the potential to suck out all the oxygen in the room. The situation in Nigeria currently has the focus of the Trump Administration with the Democratic Republic of the Congo not that far behind. One thing that any advocacy should focus on is that the situation in Northern Ethiopia remains no less serious than the other crisis spots in Africa.'
The conference concluded with calls for the international community to pay closer attention to Ethiopia's human rights violations, advocate for meaningful dialogue, and support policies aimed at restoring stability and justice in the country in alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
