Fifth Anniversary of HRLHA

A Speech at “Night to fight for human rights”
Dinner and Entertainment Event

By  Garoma Wakessa ;- Executive Director of HRLHA | May 5, 2012

Good evening and welcome to HRLHA’s “Night to fight for human rights” dinner and entertainment event.  It is, as always, an honor to be a part of this event and especially this year, as we celebrate HRLHA’s fifth anniversary.

I have a number of people to thank tonight on behalf of myself and Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who worked on Fundraising committee, and as Volunteers to put this event together,

Thanks to sisters who offered us a delicious dinner covering all expenses by themselves,

Thanks to HRLHA Board members for the service they are rendering to this organization.

Thanks to Mr. Garbi Nure and his band members for their incredible music service every year we organize fundraising,

I especially would like to take this opportunity to thank one of the HRLHA’s Board Members, Dr. Martha Kuwee Kumsa who went above and beyond to make this organization successful by supporting financially and from day one of its operation for five years,

And of course, my special thank you goes to Mr. Bayyisa Wakwaya who travelled so far from Europe/Geneva to Toronto to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa with us.

And Finally, My very special thank you goes to everyone who is here tonight. Your attendance and participation in support of the Human rights League of the Horn of Africa is absolutely necessary to uphold our commitment of defending human rights.

Dear Friends,

It is my honor to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa with such so many people in this beautiful hall.

Friends, first let me explain in short about HRLHA for those who are still not familiar with this Organization.

HRLHA was found in May 2007 in Toronto with the main objectives of   monitoring human rights violations, conducting research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated in the Horn of Africa in general and in Ethiopia in Particular. Most of the founders of HRLHA are the exiled members of an agency called Human Rights League which was previously founded in Ethiopia in 1996 and silenced by the EPRDF Government in 1997. The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa is structured in a way to cover the human rights violations in Ethiopia and neighboring states, because the human rights violation by Ethiopian government against its people was not limited only in the Ethiopian territory.  Oromo and other asylum seekers who fled their country from fear of persecution are still not safe in neighboring countries from the long arm of Ethiopian dictatorial Government.

–Full Document Human Rights League of Horn of Africa