TRADE UNION RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA

That this House shares the concern of Amnesty International for the safety of Tilahun Ayalew, Anteneh Getnet and Meqcha Mengitsu, members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA), the largest trade union in the country, who have been held in detention after criticising the Ethiopian government; notes that Amnesty International considers that all three men are at risk of torture; further notes that hundreds of teachers and ETA members have been detained or arbitrarily dismissed in recent years because they have not supported the ruling party; further notes the comment of Amnesty International's Campaign Director, Tim Hancock, that it seems that the three men are being censured for their opinions and their involvement with Ethiopia's largest trade union, and that abhorrent breach of basic human rights by the Ethiopian authorities against those who express their opinions or carry out non-violent trade union activities is becoming far too familiar; and requests that, as the Ethiopian regime is the West's latest ally in the region, the UK Government deploy its leverage to demand an end to such attacks upon trade unionists and that trade union freedom be properly respected.