Introduction

Objectives

• Organize, mobilize, and engage the public for a grassroots movement to lobby representatives of the United States Congress, the Obama Administration, the European Parliament, and other governments to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Ms Birtukan Mideksa and other political prisoners.
• Educate the public on the current distressing situation of Ms Birtukan Mideksa and other political prisoners.
• Raise public awareness in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe on the dismal human rights situation in Ethiopia.

Organizational Structure

The Free Birtukan and all Political Prisoners Task Force is an independent civic organization.  It solely exists to secure Ms Birtukan’s and other political prisoners’ release.  Although it encourages participation from all organizations, including political organizations, to achieve its goals, it is not associated with any political party or government entity. The Task Force is lead by a panel comprised of the following nine positions.

 The Task Force is also advised by the following prominent public figures:

1. Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam, a constitutional law professor at the University of California, San Bernardino.
2. Professor Negussay Ayele, a Political Science Professor at UCLA
3. Mr. Obang Metho a well known and respected human rights defender, founder of the Anuak Justice Council and one of the leaders of Solidarity Movement for New Ethiopia.   
4. Ato Robele Ababya, Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate.
5. Ato Abebe Gelaw, a Knight and a Yahoo! International Fellow at Stanford University. 

Coalition Building

The Task Force underscores the importance of forming coalitions with other civic organizations to meet its objectives.  As such it has formed partnerships with the following organizations.

• Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (http://www.vigilforpeace.org/)
• Gasha for Ethiopians (http://www.ethiopiangasha.org/ )The Task Force officially launched its activities on June 28, 2009. 
• Andinet North America Association of Support Organizations

As it continues to build coalitions, any new partnerships will be listed here.

Contacting the Organization

If you wish to contact the organization please use the following contact information.

If you would like to contact individual members of the Task Force, please use the above email addresses.