International Ethiopian Women's Organiztion--IEWO/AESED--

About IEWO/AESED

ABOUT USToday our organization, the International Ethiopian Women's Organization (IEWO), has members in many European countries, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Africa and of course the homeland Ethiopia. IEWO came to be after the coming together of motivated Ethiopian women who were aware of a specific need to organize as women. We started reaching out to each other in 2003.

The ramification grew both through organizational and individual efforts the world over. Ethiopian women have been living in exile for more than 30 years now. This reality is related to the repression carried out both by the military in the past and the current ethnic dictatorships. We were joined by women who regretted the disappearance of active women's organizations, who had a hard time surfacing after years of repression. IEWO wants to reach out to Ethiopian women of all ages, be they settled, stranded elsewhere in other parts of the world, or dealing with the reality by living within the country.Ethiopian girls are being born all over the world, learning different languages and growing in different societies.

They are valuable assets who can contribute a lot because of their natural exposure to human rights and other achievements evidently obtained through hard struggles. Some may end up staying in foreign lands; others may develop attachments for their country of origin. Be that as it may, it is up to us to reach out to them and get them interested in nurturing at least a sense of strong solidarity with women in Ethiopia who are struggling everyday within a very harsh reality. Unfortunately some young girls still undergo harmful traditions that are still practiced by traditional parents. Of whatever hue these fetters to their natural development may be, IEWO will stand up and defend their rights wherever they may be.

Young Ethiopians who work in the Middle East and sometimes in European countries are victims of modern day slavery.In its statutes IEWO states that women's rights are human rights and that their struggle is part and parcel of the battle for democracy and bringing about a fundamental change in Ethiopia. It calls upon all Ethiopian women who want to make a difference by taking part as members and sympathizers, to enhance the premises of better conditions for Ethiopian women. IEWO wants to bring to the fore the plights of the Girl Child, to speak up against all inequalities, genital mutilations, rape, elopement, domestic violence. IEWO will promote all the achievements enshrined in the resolutions of the United Nations concerning women's rights, like the right to life, access to minimum hygienic conditions, equal access to education, equal pay to equal work etc. It will encourage Ethiopian women to look into all the international conferences, their achievements as well as battles to come.Overview

Today in Ethiopia, economic, political and human rights are grossly violated across the country this means that Ethiopian women are found in most dehumanizing and oppressive conditions. Very young women and children are the primary victims of infectious diseases, poverty, prostitution and modern slavery under the current most oppressive regime of Meles Zenawe. IEWO is committed to promoting the goals of justice, peace, social order and development to the vast majority of Ethiopian women who are suffering from the plight of poverty disease and violence. In Ethiopia as it is in many countries, a sustainable and meaningful economic, political and social development and true social transformation can and must emerge out of active involvement and empowerment of women in their life. We advocate for the provision of public education and policy directed toward eliminating violence, poverty, disease, oppression, and injustice in the life of Ethiopian women who are the pillar of family and society.

By empowering women we believe that we can not only improve the life of women but also we can effectively transform our society. Some of the way in which IEWO attempts to attain these goals are by providing educational conferences, workshops, publications, grass root advocacy activities and human right issues. In general, the conditions and position of women held within the family and society at large is considered to be a reflection and best measure whether or not a society is just and civilized. Today, the world in which we live is far from reflecting a civilized nature to the most part, women are still burdened and subjected to poverty, war, dominance, violence, and other oppressive conditions. Thus, the full participation of women in the leadership, decision-making processes and in all other aspect of their life that is (women’s life quite often translate as being every body’s life) is paramount. Ethiopian Women Organization website is created to foster dialogue and discussions among women of Ethiopian descent and friends of Ethiopian women on issues that concern women in Ethiopia. It encourages Ethiopian women to fully participate in their countrys political, economic and social development.

Some of IEWO's long and short term activities

Raise funds, find resources and establish financial strength for Ethiopian women- to feed children who are starving today.
Raise awareness on women's issues, their rights, responsibilities, thier role in transforming themselves and society at large.
Provide organizational structure and function for education and development.
Provide the medium and forum for discussing issues on women in Ethiopia through newsletters, paper, radio etc.
Organize seminars and forums on issues about Ethiopian women.
Conduct research, provide workshops and training that promote health and wellness among Ethiopian women.
Support organizations and indivduals who provide social servies economically, in education and health.
Establish a network among ourselves and with all women to empower each other.
Work and support those who struggle for a just society, peace and respect of human rights in Ethiopia.
Stand and work in solidarity with women across the world.
Raise funds, find resources and establish financial strength for Ethiopian women.
And many more....AgerMaden Betegebar ....

Leadershio group

IEWO is lead by a Council, including advisory elders/mothers as well as Executive Committee body. In addition IEWO has eight other divisions and subcommittee. IEWO members will be participating wherever they maybe across the world by organizing and creating branches like the following on both international and regional levels.

Affairs of Women and Children
Organizational affairs and Youth matters
Political and Social Affairs
Financial and material resources
Publications and Media (newspaper, radio etc.)
Health and Community services
Study and Research division
Peace and Development IEWO has women elders as advisers to the Council as well.

The IEWO Resolutions - 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