May 30, 2013

Dear,

On behalf of Amnesty International Canada and the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP Canada) we would like to invite you to attend a discussion entitled "Ethiopia Futures". The event takes place on June 4, 2013, starting at 1:00 p.m. on Parliament Hill, room 120, 1 Wellington Street, just across the main buildings of Parliament (in Ottawa).

The discussion deals with issues such as Human Rights, Democratization, Regional Security, National Dialogue and Canadian/Ethiopian Relations. A distinguished team of scholars and human rights experts, including Professor Terrence Lyons of George Mason University, Claire Beeston of Amnesty International’s International Secretariat and Dr. Busha Taa of the University of Toronto are among the confirmed speakers. (A detailed agenda of the discussion is at the end of this letter).

We are confident the discussion will offer parliamentarians, government officials, academics and civil society activists an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the many serious challenges Ethiopia faces and formulate recommendations for action, particularly with respect to Canada’s engagement with the country. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Sincerely,
Alex Neve                                                                                           
                                                                                                                Solomon Workneh                 AI Canada General Secretary                                                                 SOCEPP Canada
                                                                                                              www.Humanrightsethiopia.com 

             Agenda: "Ethiopia Futures"

Date & Time:

June 4, 2013 from 1:00 to 5:45 p.m.

Venue:

Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada (Room 120, 1 Wellington Street)

Co-chaired by Amnesty International Canada and SOCEPP-Canada
 
Part I
(1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)

Introductions and opening
(1:00 – 1:15 p.m.)

Alex Neve
, Secretary General Amnesty International Canada, and

Aklilu Wendaferew
, Chair, Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners- Canada (SOCEPP-CAN)

Presentation


1)
Human Rights in Ethiopia: Trends and opportunities (1:15 – 1:35 p.m.)

Claire Beeston
, Amnesty International Secretariat Representative

2)
Democracy and Regional Security in the Horn: Are they Mutually Exclusive? (1:40 – 2:00 p.m.)

Dr. Busha Taa
, University of Toronto

Discussion:
Moderator Alex Neve (2:00 – 2:30 p.m.)

Break
(2:30 – 2:45 p.m.)

Part II
(2:45 - 4:45 p.m.)

3)
Canada-Ethiopia Relations (2:45 – 3:05 p.m.)

Yannick Lamonde
, Deputy Director, East & Southern Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

4)
Development and Democracy in Ethiopia (3:05 – 3:25 p.m.)

Felix Horne
, Human Rights Watch

5)
Commentary on Canada-Ethiopia Relations (3:25 – 3:45 p.m.)

Hon. Bob Rae
and Hon. Paul Dewar

6)
National Dialogue and its Alternatives in Ethiopia (3:45 – 4:15 p.m.)

Terrence Lyons
, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Discussion
: Moderator Aklilu Wendaferew (4:15 – 4:45 p.m.)

Summary and closing
(4:45 to 5:45 p.m.)

Alex Neve and Aklilu Wendaferew