Promoting and Celebrating Eritrea & Ethiopia

WHEREAS, on July 21, 2018 Eritrea appointed an ambassador to Ethiopia — the first one in 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Ethiopians and Eritreans responded with great joy to the news that one of the longest ongoing conflicts had come to an end; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations hailed the move as a "new wind of hope" in Africa; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP Joined the United Nations in Promoting and Celebrating the international Decade for People of African Decent with a 2015 resolution; and

WHEREAS, in December 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations (U.N.) officially adopted a resolution proclaiming the decade beginning in 2015 and through 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent; and

WHEREAS, our society grows stronger through civil dialogue. When we open our hearts and our minds to learn from one another; and

WHEREAS, NAACP should foster dialogue and community engagement with Ethiopians and Eritreans by recognizing our similarities, which can make us more open to better accepting and even celebrating our differences and knowledge with people from different backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, by finding common ground, the NAACP, Ethiopians and Eritreans Communities can identify ways to focus on positive social change that will help strengthen our communities; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP looks to Ethiopians and Eritreans Communities to become new members in the organization through interconnectivity.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP joins the Ethiopians and Eritreans celebrating and promoting the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Eritrea-Ethiopia;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP support dialogue about how we can all contribute to building a community of opportunity within Ethiopians and Eritreans Communities.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that beyond exploring challenges, the NAACP should imagine and delineate possibilities for collaboration among people of Ethiopians and Eritreans that could strengthen our communities and countries.