432-01060 (Foreign affairs)

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas, Ethiopia has experienced alarming bouts of unrest and violence in the last year.

Whereas, conflict has engulfed the Tigray region of Ethiopia leading to egregious human rights abuses and a humanitarian crisis.

Whereas, humanitarian actors and independent journalists and researchers have almost no access to the effected regions.

Whereas, Ethiopian and Eritrean federal armed forces, forces affiliated with the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), and Ethiopian regional and militia forces, have all taken part in the conflict.

Whereas, credible reports indicate that war crimes, such as the indiscriminate shelling of civilian towns and villages, extrajudicial killings, at least one largescale massacre, looting, and sexual violence, have all occurred in Tigray.

Whereas, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with increasing reports of rising hunger, limited access to food and other life-saving assistance, and a collapsed healthcare system in the Tigray region.

Whereas, Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of Canada's international assistance.

Whereas, elections are scheduled to take place in Ethiopia later this year.

Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to take the following actions:

1. Immediately call for an end to violence and for restraint from all sides/parties involved in the Tigray conflict.

2. Immediately call for humanitarian access to the region and for independent monitoring to be allowed.

3. Immediately call for international investigations into credible reports of war crimes and gross violations of human rights law.

4. Engage directly and consistently with the Ethiopian and Eritrean Governments on this conflict.

5. Promote short, medium, and long-term elections monitoring in Ethiopia.