Ethiopian Human Rights Council

The Ethiopian Human Rights Council was established in 1991, and "is committed to the cause of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. EHRCO has several members and support committees in the major cities of Europe, United States and Canada." 

Member of the Africa Democracy Forum.

Personnel

 * Mesfin Woldemariam - Chairman

Recepient of NED grants
In 1994 they received their first NED grant for $24,500 "to support the establishment of branch offices in four regions of Ethiopia to monitor human rights conditions, organize seminars, and distribute public information on human rights."

In 1997, they received $24,000 to "monitor the human rights situation in five regions of Ethiopia outside the capital city; document violations; provide assistance to victims; hold informal training sessions in rural areas to inform people on human rights issues; produce regular reports and press releases on human rights; organize public lectures and training sessions in Addis Ababa; and publish a monthly newsletter, Melikte-Isemegu."

In 1998, they received $24,000 to "continue its human rights monitoring work by assigning monitors to five priority federal regions of the country in order to document violations, provide assistance to victims, and disseminate information on human rights. This information will provide documentation for EHRCO's general and special-topic reports on issues of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Ethiopia. EHRCO will also organize ten half-day human rights education lectures for grassroots audiences and continue to publish its monthly newsletter Melikte-Isemegu. Endowment funds will also support infrastructure costs, including communications, staff salaries, and office supplies." In 2001, they received $26,000 to "monitor and issue regular and special reports on human rights in Ethiopia, to maintain a Web page and to publish 2,000 copies of each of six issues of its Amharic-language newsletter, Melikte Isemegu. Four civic education forums will be held on human rights and democracy in Ethiopia, targeting Addis Ababa schoolteachers." Source

Contact

 * Web: http://www.ehrco.org