Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06), two Ethiopian speakers and others will be holding a news conference on Wednesday, February 15 to express their views on what the Ethiopian and American governments should do to redress the increasingly tragic situation in Ethiopia. The conference will coincide with the introduction of a bipartisan resolution urging that action be taken to stem the denial of human rights and outright abuse of citizens by the Ethiopian government.

     “The human rights violations of the Ethiopian government have heightened concern within the international community and threatened the stability of this important East African nation,” said Smith. “This resolution draws attention to these violations and proposes actions by both the Government of Ethiopia and the Government of the United States to help Ethiopia find a path back to stability and democracy.”

Who:               Chairman Smith (NJ-04), Rep. Mike Coffman, Tewodrose Tirfe, Founding Member of Amhara Association of America, Seenaa Jimjimo, President of Coalition of Oromo Advocates for Human Rights and Democracy, others

What:              Press Conference on the upcoming House Resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia

When:             Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 1:30 PM

Where:            House Triangle

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