To All Peace Loving People

Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development is holding candle light vigil on March 8, International Women’s Day, honoring the struggle of Ethiopian women for peace and justice. 

As women everywhere, Ethiopian women withstand the burden of society. They have long suffered under successive regimes facing economic, social and cultural injustices such as lack of education, economic hardship, and harmful traditional practices.  In addition, women and children are the ones who have shouldered the brunt of the consequences of the successive destructive conflicts and wars in the country.

Since the May 2005 elections and the killings and imprisoning of political opponents by the government, tension, fear and insecurity have become a way of life in Ethiopia, Many women are killed and many are in prison. Many lost their loved ones -- sons, daughters and husbands by the brutal killings of the security forces of the regime. Thousands of Ethiopian women have fled the country and are facing the misery of refugee life in neighboring countries.

Hence, on this significant International Women’s day, EWPD members and our supporters are holding candle light vigil demanding to have a just society in Ethiopia.  We are commemorating women who died struggling for peace and justice. We empathize with those who fled their country and are facing danger and insecurity in foreign lands. We stand in solidarity with mothers, sisters, wives and daughters who are struggling to make ends meet.

EWPD is calling on the Ethiopian government to respect the civil and human right of all its citizens. The government must  release all political prisoners, journalists, civic rights activists and open dialog with opposition political parties in order to peacefully settle the political problems in the country. We demand that the government should stop repression and allow free flow of ideas to establish the ground for a democratic society.

Finally, EWPD appeals to the United States government and the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government to release all political leaders since it is the basis for bringing peace in the country.

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EWPD is a non-political non-partisan organization working for peace and  development in Ethiopia since 1991. You can contact us at www.ewpd.info or ewpda@yahoo.com