Why the Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia Matters for Peace and Stability?
Kennedy Caucus Room, Capitol Hill, May 15, 2026, 9 am to 12:30 pm
Program
1. The purpose of the conference and welcome, Mr. Mesfin Mekonnen, Editor, Washington Update, Moderator–10 minutes.
2. Why the Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia Matters for Peace and, Stability, Dr. Gregory Stanton, Founder and President, Genocide Watch, Keynote Speake–20 minutes.
3. An Eyewitness Account of Domestic Human Atrocities in Ethiopia, photojournalist Mr. Jemal Countess—15 minutes.
4. A New Social Contract: How Constitutional Reform Could Unite Ethiopia’s Diverse Peoples. Dr. Derrin Smith, Former State Department Official – 10 minutes.
5. Why Justice, Media, and International Accountability Matter in Ethiopia, Mr. Andrew Kreig —10 minutes.
6. Global Human Rights Advocacy: Ethiopia’s case, Ms. Sylvia S. –10 minutes.
7. Africa Working Group, IRF – Religious Freedom in Ethiopia and International Response, Mr. Scott Morgan—10 minutes.
8. The Urgency of Now—Ethiopia’s Human Rights Crisis Requires International Response, Dr. Aklog Birara, Founding Member and Vice Chair, Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians—20 minutes.
9. The Crisis in Ethiopia: Implications for Regional Stability and the Urgent Need for U.S. Congressional Action Through House Resolution HR 937, Mr. Youm Fesseha, Board Member and General Secretary, AEPAC, 20 minutes.
10. Q &A—30 minutes
11. Concluding Remarks, Mr. Mesfin Mekonnen—10 minutes.
Public Announcement
Why the Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia Matters for Peace and Stability:
Conference, Kennedy Cacus Room, US Senate, Capitol Hill. May 15, 2026.
Washington, D.C. – Mesfin Mekonen, an Ethiopian American, Author of Washington Update, and a champion of human rights and constitutional democracy in Ethiopia and Aklog Birara, Ethiopian American, Vice Chairman of Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians, commentator on political economy, author and former Senior Advisor with the World Bank express our sincere gratitude to Senator Chris Van Hollen and his dedicated staff for their generous assistance in helping secure a meeting space at the historic Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building for our upcoming conference concerning the Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia.
This open conference in English is open to anyone interested in peace, stability and democracy in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
The forum will bring together community leaders, human rights advocates, and policy experts to discuss the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. The conference will highlight ongoing atrocities, systematic human rights violations, and the escalating persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Attention will be given to the widespread abuses reported against the Amhara people and the continued suppression of fundamental freedoms.
This diverse group of participants intend to call for the immediate release of all political prisoners and detainees, like Tadios Tantu, Christian Tadele and hundreds of others.
Holding this conference at the United States Congress underscores the urgent need for greater international awareness and action to promote peace, justice, stability, religious freedom, and respect for international human rights laws and protocols in Ethiopia.
This historic conference seeks to amplify the voices of oppressed and marginalized Ethiopians by bringing urgent international attention to widespread human rights violations occurring throughout Ethiopia.
Special focus will be given to the systematic attacks and abuses targeting the Amhara community, the persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, and the increasing suppression of political dissent and freedom of expression.
The conference will serve as a platform to discuss the urgent need for constitutional reform, national reconciliation and peace, democratic governance, and long-term peace and stability in Ethiopia.
Holding this conference at the United States Congress is both intentional and strategic. Congress has historically played an important role in addressing international human rights crises and shaping U.S. foreign policy toward Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. We encourage all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to attend and stand in solidarity with the victims of violence, persecution, and injustice.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: A Forum on the Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia including the Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Churches.
Focal Points of Discussion:
- Ethnic cleansing and genocide.
- Targeted violence against the Amhara population.
- Mass displacement of civilians.
- State and non-state sponsored extrajudicial killings.
- Arbitrary detention.
- 3Political repression and censorship.
- Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox and religious freedom.
- Accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide.
- Peace, stability and national reconciliation.
- Constitutional reform.
- Regional stability in the Horn and Eastern Africa.
- Democratic governance.
Invited U.S. Officials and Dignitaries
- Chris Van Hollen
- Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Chris Smith
- Peter Welch
- Michael Bennet
- Chris Coons
- Angela Alsobrooks
- Members of the press, policy experts, and members of the public.
Registration: Please register in advance via Eventbrite.
Mesfin Mekonen
Mesfin Mekonen is the author of Washington Update, a bulletin about Ethiopia’s struggle for freedom and prosperity, and founder of MM Management.
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