I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 53 of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Before we begin, I would like to ask all members and other in-person participants to consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents. Please take note of the following preventative measures in place to protect the health and safety of all participants, including the interpreters. Only use a black approved earpiece. The former grey earpieces must no longer be used. Keep your earpiece away from all microphones at all times. When you are not using your earpiece, place it face down, on the sticker placed on the table for this purpose.
Pursuant to our routine motion, I wish to inform the subcommittee that all witnesses have completed the required sound tests in advance of the meeting.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the subcommittee on Tuesday, April 30, the subcommittee is commencing its study of the current situation in Ethiopia.
I would now like to welcome the witnesses. We have, by video conference and as an individual, Yonas Biru, former interim chair of the Ethiopian Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and former deputy global manager of the International Economic Comparison Program at the World Bank. We also have, by video conference and as an individual, Meaza Gebremedhin, independent researcher and human rights defender. From the Canadian Amhara Societies Alliance, we have, by video conference, Wosen Yitna Beyene, president of the Amhara International Movement. In person, from Ethio-Canadians for Human Rights, we have Semaneh Jemere, chairperson, and Yohannes Berhe and Aserdew Kebbede, members. Finally, in person, from Security and Justice for Tigrayans Canada, we have Kidane Gebremariam, former chair and current board member.
The witnesses will have approximately four minutes for their opening remarks, after which members of the committee will ask their questions.
I would like to ask members if I have unanimous consent to go beyond 5:30 until six o'clock. If you would like to go beyond even that, I would like to have your unanimous consent for that, too.