PRESS STATEMENT
The IEWO has successfully held its founding congress on March,
3-4, 2007 and passed the following resolutions:
1. After discussing on the current situation in Ethiopia, the
Congress has
a) Condemned the brutal regime
of the TPLF/EPRDF and especially its undemocratic policies towards women and children;
b) Resolved to work in alliance
with all justice loving Ethiopian organizations determined to remove this regime from power.
2. After examining in depth the situation in which Ethiopian
women find themselves in, the Congress has
a) Decided that the IEWO will
spare no effort in trying to ameliorate the condition of Ethiopian women who are subjected to poverty and modern slavery.
b) Sadly taken note of the fact that
due to conditions created by the present regime women have been forced into exile to suffer inhumane treatment and modern
slavery in the Middle East.
c) Resolved to set up a task force to
expose their suffering and to safeguard their rights in accordance with international labour legislations.
3. The Congress has strongly condemned the ongoing practice of
selling children into adoption and passed resolutions in this regard.
a) The TPLF/EPRDF regime has exposed
children to a dangerous situation without any concern for their future.
b) The Congress has taken note
that this adoption measure has been practiced without any concern for the welfare of the children.
c) The Congress has resolved that
the IEWO will undertake an all round study of the situation to find a solution to the problem.
4. The Congress believes that the myriad problems of the
country cannot be removed if the full participation of women in the affairs of the country is not assured.
a) Hence, the IEWO will facilitate
ways and means and open up forums to enable women to take full part in the political, economic and cultural fields so that
they can make their national contribution as citizens. The IEWO will mobilize and organize young women.
b) The IEWO will open up research
and study as well as educational departments to contribute to the welfare and progress of women and of the country.
5. The IEWO condemns the war provoked by the TPLF/EPRDF
and its invasion of Somalia, as the action does not augur anything good for the people of Ethiopia.
6. The Congress has taken note of the role and place of women
in history and resolved to undertake the necessary effort and to prepare educational, historical and relevant papers to assert
the place that is due to them.
7. The Congress, after considering the tie between the country,
the people and religion, calls upon religious leaders to exert their effort to contribute to the cause of women. As the role
of religion should be to safeguard the people the religious leaders must side with the people and not with the anti people
and anti Ethiopia TPLF/EPRDF regime.
8. The IEWO believes that it should organize various community
services, in health, education and other sectors to benefit all those in the Diaspora.
9. The Congress has condemned the TPLF/EPRDF regime for violating
the human rights of the people and has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and independent
journalists.
March 4, 2007 Washington DC
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