My name is Abel Tewolde, and I am of Tigrayan ethnicity living in the United States. I am part of a growing community of Tigrayans and supporters speaking publicly against human-rights abuses and calling for justice, accountability, civilian protection, and lasting peace in Tigray.

For years, Tigrayans have endured devastating conflict, displacement, loss of family members, destruction of communities, humanitarian hardship, and serious alleged and documented human-rights violations. Reports by international human-rights organizations have raised grave concerns about arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and other ill-treatment, extrajudicial and unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, sexual violence, and abuses directed against ethnic Tigrayans.

These are not merely statistics to me. This is about my people, my community, and families who continue to live with the consequences of war and persecution.

ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND DETENTION OF TIGRAYANS
One of my greatest concerns is the reported arbitrary arrest and detention of ethnic Tigrayans.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other human-rights organizations have documented abuses against Tigrayans during the conflict and its aftermath. Reports concerning arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and other mistreatment deserve serious international attention.

No person should be arrested, imprisoned, mistreated, disappeared, or targeted simply because of their ethnicity or peaceful exercise of fundamental rights.

The Ethiopian authorities must respect due process and fundamental human rights. Anyone arbitrarily detained should be released, and credible allegations of torture, enforced disappearance, or unlawful killing must be independently investigated.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PEACEFUL ADVOCACY
The ability to criticize a government peacefully is a fundamental freedom.

Journalists, activists, human-rights defenders, opposition figures, and ordinary citizens must be able to report abuses, criticize government policies, participate in peaceful demonstrations, and advocate for their communities without fear of arbitrary detention or retaliation.

Reports concerning arrests and restrictions affecting journalists, activists, and political voices in Ethiopia make protection of freedom of expression especially important.

Silencing peaceful criticism does not create peace. Genuine peace requires respect for fundamental freedoms, human dignity, and the ability of people to demand accountability without fear.

MY OWN ADVOCACY FOR TIGRAY
As a Tigrayan living in the United States, I refuse to remain silent about the suffering of my community.

I have participated in protests and demonstrations in the United States to raise awareness about what has happened and continues to happen in Tigray.

I also use social-media platforms, including TikTok and X/Twitter, to speak publicly about Tigray, condemn reported human-rights abuses, share information about the humanitarian situation, and call for justice and accountability.

My advocacy is peaceful.

I speak because victims deserve to be remembered.

I speak because displaced families deserve to return home safely.

I speak because people detained arbitrarily deserve freedom.

I speak because survivors deserve justice.

And I speak because another generation of Tigrayans should not have to experience the horrors of another devastating war.

I stand with other Tigrayans and supporters around the world who continue to demand civilian protection, human rights, humanitarian access, justice, and accountability.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND DISPLACEMENT
The conflict in northern Ethiopia produced an enormous humanitarian catastrophe.

Millions of people have required humanitarian assistance during different stages of the crisis, while large numbers of Tigrayans have been displaced from their homes.

Families have faced shortages and disruptions involving food, medicine, healthcare, fuel, shelter, and other basic necessities.

Even after the November 2022 Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, many displaced Tigrayans have remained unable to return safely and permanently to their communities.

Humanitarian assistance must never be unlawfully obstructed or manipulated for political or military purposes.

Food, medicine, fuel, healthcare, and humanitarian personnel must be allowed to reach civilians according to need.

WESTERN TIGRAY AND DISPLACED TIGRAYANS
The situation of displaced Tigrayans, including those displaced from Western Tigray, demands continued international attention.

Human-rights organizations have documented forced displacement and other grave abuses against ethnic Tigrayans in Western Tigray.

People forced from their homes deserve a voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable path to return.

No community should permanently lose its home because of ethnicity, violence, intimidation, or forced displacement.

International actors must continue pressing for protection of displaced civilians and meaningful solutions consistent with international human-rights standards.

RENEWED VIOLENCE AND REPORTED DRONE STRIKES
Recent reports of renewed violence and drone strikes in Tigray have created new fears that civilians could once again be dragged into devastating warfare.

Any credible report of attacks causing civilian casualties must be investigated independently.

All parties must respect international humanitarian law, including obligations concerning the protection of civilians and distinction between civilian objects and legitimate military objectives.

The people of Tigray have already endured extraordinary suffering.

They should not be forced to experience another cycle of drone strikes, warfare, displacement, hunger, and destruction.

ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT BE ABANDONED
There can be no lasting peace without meaningful accountability.

Serious allegations concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity, unlawful killings, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, attacks against civilians, and attacks against humanitarian personnel require credible and independent investigation.

Victims deserve truth and justice.

Survivors deserve recognition.

Families of the disappeared deserve answers.

Those responsible for serious international crimes should face lawful investigation and prosecution where sufficient evidence exists, regardless of political position, military rank, nationality, or affiliation.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO
We call upon the United States government, United Nations, African Union, European Union, and other international partners to intensify diplomatic efforts to protect civilians and human rights in Ethiopia.

We ask international leaders to:

• Press for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, ethnic targeting, and other serious abuses against Tigrayans.

• Demand protection for peaceful protesters, journalists, activists, human-rights defenders, and others exercising fundamental freedoms.

• Demand independent investigations into credible allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international law.

• Support meaningful accountability for individuals against whom sufficient evidence establishes responsibility for serious international crimes.

• Ensure humanitarian organizations have safe and effective access to civilians requiring assistance.

• Support the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of displaced Tigrayans.

• Press all parties to protect civilians and prevent renewed large-scale warfare in Tigray.

• Independently investigate credible reports of drone strikes and other attacks resulting in civilian casualties.

• Consider appropriate targeted sanctions or other lawful measures against individuals credibly implicated in serious human-rights violations.

• Ensure that international engagement with Ethiopia does not come at the expense of human rights, civilian protection, justice, or accountability.

WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO SIGN
I am asking you to stand with Tigrayans who cannot safely make their voices heard.

I am asking you to stand with families searching for missing loved ones, displaced people waiting to return home, survivors seeking justice, civilians afraid of renewed warfare, and journalists and activists who continue speaking despite the risks they may face.

As a Tigrayan living in the United States, I will continue peacefully raising my voice for my people and advocating for human rights, justice, accountability, and peace.

Our message is simple:

Protect Tigrayans.

End arbitrary arrests and detention.

End persecution and ethnic targeting.

Protect freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

Stop unlawful attacks against civilians.

Guarantee humanitarian access.

Protect displaced Tigrayans and support their safe return.

Investigate credible allegations of atrocities.

Hold responsible perpetrators accountable through lawful processes.

Prevent another devastating war in Tigray.

Please sign this petition and help amplify our call for international action.

Tigrayans deserve to live without fear because of their ethnicity or peaceful expression. Victims deserve justice. Displaced families deserve to return home safely. And future generations deserve lasting peace.

Stand with Tigray. Stand for human rights, justice, accountability, and peace.