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Blogging to Prevent Genocide

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

For the dead and the living, we must bear witness. For not only are we responsible for the memories of the dead, we are also responsible for what we are doing with those memories.

- Elie Wiesel, Holocaust Survivor

Bloggers across the nation are uniting to spread the word about genocide prevention.  While we often hear about horrific crises in Darfur, Bosnia and Rwanda, rarely do we hear about the important work that can keep these atrocities from happening in the first place.

Please help us prevent genocide by writing your own blog with the resources below.  Through our blogs, we hope to educate communities on upcoming genocide prevention efforts in Congress. Despite its commitment to end atrocities, the U.S. government often fails to protect civilians during crises such as those in Rwanda and Darfur. These missed opportunities to save lives demonstrate that the United States does not have the right tools, structures and resources to effectively prevent atrocities.

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To address this shortfall, Congress will consider legislation to improve early warning systems, reinforce cooperation between government agencies, and authorize flexible funding that enables a timely civilian response.  In order for their efforts to succeed, however, we need your help to ensure that your Senators and Representatives turn this important bill into law.

Please join our genocide prevention efforts and write a blog article that asks your readers to join as well.

You can use our short video and the talking points and petition link below to explain genocide prevention.  The links and organizations in the ‘Survivor Stories’ section will help you find survivor testimonials that demonstrate why this legislation is so important.  Or use your own creativity, insight, and passion to promote the fight against genocide.  Whichever you choose, please share your work with us!


Ask Your Readers to Take Action:

Encourage your readers to sign the petition at the link below.  The petition calls on the U.S. Congress to support efforts toward a genocide prevention bill.

Petition Link: https://secure3.convio.net/sdc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=657


Use Talking Points to Explain Genocide Prevention:

  • Years of underinvestment in civilian tools like diplomacy, development, and international cooperation have crippled the U.S.’ ability to help prevent atrocities across the world.
  • In December 2010, the Senate passed a resolution (S. Con. Res. 71) calling for specific steps to improve US capacities to prevent genocide and atrocities.
  • The Obama administration has stated US commitment to prevention of genocide and mass atrocities in the National Security Strategy, Quadrennial Defense Review, and Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Yet, the practical policy steps needed to transform these words into action and ensure sustainable policy change are not yet being taken.
  • Leadership and pressure from Congress is needed now to ensure that the policy gaps and capacities in the US government are filled and maintained beyond any one administration.
  • The 112th Congress should prioritize genocide prevention by introducing bipartisan legislation that would strengthen US civilian capacities to detect potential atrocities, rebuild the diplomatic corps, improve the methods of delivering development assistance, use security assistance to protect civilians, and improve international cooperation.
  • Twenty-five years after Senate ratification of the Genocide Convention, its time for Congress to take the lead again in making the promise of “Never again” can a reality.


Make Your Work Resonate with Survivor Stories

Written testimonials:

Organizations with access to survivors:

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2011 Funding Bill Passed, 2012 Budget Battle Ahead

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Yesterday, the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed H.R.1473, a bill that will fund the United States Government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. Now, the bill will be sent to the President who is expected to sign the measure into law.

2011 Bill Restores Funding to Critical Humanitarian Aid Accounts

H.R.1473 represents a compromise agreement reached late last week. We are grateful that the compromise bill largely restored funding to key humanitarian accounts that had been slashed in the original House version.We thank the thousands of activists who took action to fight the House-proposed cuts to critical accounts that save lives in Sudan like International Disaster Assistance, Food for Peace, and Migration and Refugee Assistance.

2012 Budget Proposal Threatens to Devastate Funding for Sudan and Genocide Prevention

Now that funding for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year has been secured, the focus turns to the 2012 Budget.

Earlier this week, the Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget introduced H.Con.Res.34, a budget resolution that would devastate the entire international affairs account. The severity of the cut—a more than 43% decrease over the President’s request—would have a drastic impact on humanitarian aid and money needed for genocide prevention. The proposed reductions would undermine the United States’ commitment to peace in places like Sudan and would jeopardize national security. The House is expected to vote on H.Con.Res.34 later today.

Update on House Budget Vote (April 15 at 4:15 p.m.)

The House passed H.Con.Res.34 on Friday, April 15 by a vote of 253-189. See how your Representative voted.


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House 2012 Budget Will Devastate International Affairs Account

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Tomorrow, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a resolution that will determine funding levels for the 2012 Budget (H.Con.Res.34). The resolution specifically targets the international affairs account for devastating cuts.

Call your Representative and urge them to vote against H.Con.Res.34 because it drastically cuts the international affairs account.

If passed, H.Con.Res.34 would slash the international affairs account by $27 billion over the President’s request. This marks a 43% reduction in funding. This disproportionate targeting will put lives at risk in Sudan and jeopardize national security. The international affairs account is critical because it:

Please act now by calling your U.S. Representative. Urge them to vote against H.Con.Res.34 because it drastically cuts the international affairs account.

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2011 Fellow Hosts Carl Wilkens

Monday, April 4th, 2011

This post is by Nicole Moore, a 2011 Carl Wilkens Fellow. The Carl Wilkens Fellowship is a selective, 12-month leadership development program that provides a diverse set of emerging citizen leaders with the tools and training to build sustained political will to end genocide. As part of the program, Fellows receive training in community outreach and coalition building, legislative action, media outreach and fundraising.

On March 22, human rights advocate Carl Wilkens visited middle school students at Almaden Country School (ACS) in San Jose, California. Wilkens presented his experience as the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda during the genocide, as well as his continuing dedication to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Through his poignant style of storytelling, Wilkens guided the students to consider the power that one person, who chooses to stand up to injustice, can make on the world around them.
“It was enlightening experience,” said eighth grade student Cooper Burrill. “Everyone can make a difference, even small things, but everyone can make a difference.”
Carl Wilkens was invited by ACS teacher Nicole Moore, who is the recipient of the Fellowship that is named after Wilkens, through the Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition. As part of her Fellowship, Mrs. Moore is committed to expanding the understanding of human rights issues to her students and to instilling the knowledge that even one person can make a tremendous difference.
“My U.S. Representative, Mike Honda, noted in a February Contra Costa Times article that cuts to humanitarian aid and the elimination of programs, such as the United States Institute of Peace, could give the impression that the United States doesn’t care about peace or the prevention of global atrocities,” said Mrs. Moore. “This makes the work of people like Carl Wilkens even more important as we inspire the next generation of students to be empowered to make the world a more peaceful place to live in.”

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Protecting Civilians in Libya: How You Can Help

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

On March 19th, the United States—in coordination with the international community and with authorization from the United Nations Security Council—began enforcement of a no-fly zone to protect civilians in Libya. This action has been a major topic of conversation in Congress this week. Today, both the House and Senate will hold hearings on the matter.

Unfortunately, in the midst of the debate on Libya, Congress seems to be losing sight of two critical points: the dire threat to civilians in Libya that prompted urgent response and the international community’s responsibly to protect (R2P) civilians when a sovereign government is unwilling or unable to do so.

Take Action by Writing a Letter to the Editor

This failure to highlight the importance of R2P in light of the dire threat to civilians offers activists a critical opportunity to join the conversation. Newspapers across the country have been covering the Libya story. Now is a great chance to write a letter to the editor of your local paper to clarify the importance of civilian protection and the need for the United States to do everything it can to prevent mass atrocities.

Letter to the Editor Tips

  • Go to your newspaper’s website to check guidelines for letter to the editor (LTE) submissions, including word limit (150-200 is typical), requirements for including contact information, etc. If you need help finding  your local paper, this search tool is useful.
  • Use your own words–the LTE below is a sample that can guide you.
  • Link your letter to a story, column or editorial in the newspaper whenever possible, listing the title and date of the article in your LTE.
  • Send a copy of the LTE to the office of your members of Congress so they get your message even if it is not published. This tool can help.

Sample Letter to the Editor

Many people, including some members of Congress, are questioning President Obama’s decision to support the United Nations-authorized no-fly zone in Libya [List headline, date of publication.] The debate largely surrounds the costs of U.S. military involvement and the role of Congress in authorizing military action.  These are important questions, but miss critical points.  President Obama’s actions to support the civilian protection mission now underway in Libya marks the first time the international community has acted in a timely and effective manner to live up to its responsibility to protect civilians when a sovereign government is unwilling to do so. The United States failed to act in the face of large-scale mass atrocities in Bosnia and Rwanda, and past presidents must live with the knowledge that thousands of lives were lost because of our inaction at critical times. Thanks to the quick action of the United States and its allies, the systematic slaughter of civilians in Libya’s second largest city has been averted.

Sample Letter to Your Member of Congress

Dear Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator:

I wanted you to see this letter to the editor that I submitted to [name of newspaper] in support of the action underway to protect civilians in Libya. I urge you to support United States action to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Thank you,

[Your Name]

[Include Text of Letter to the Editor]

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The world’s leaders Failed Darfur women by their inaction

Friday, March 25th, 2011

The world’s leaders Failed Darfur women by their inaction

March 8 was International Women’s Day, a very special day for me personally as a Sudanese woman from Darfur. It’s an important moment in which I stand in recognition of the struggle of the Darfuri women and as part of women’s struggle worldwide. Despite the suffering, Darfuri women have demonstrated outstanding resilience and strength and have served as leaders and spokesperson’s for their communities during the ongoing genocide in Darfur, for which they have to be recognized, particularly those who are still living in the camps.

March 8th was the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. In 1911 – the year the holiday was first celebrated internationally – women could not yet vote in most countries. It is worth noting that women have accomplished a lot globally since then , however, that is  not because the world have changed or opened its arms for women to come forward and have access to the different levels of participation, no, this is not simply the case! It’s because of women’s unspeakable struggles. Despite the fact that today a number of women serve as presidents and in other positions of power, there is still a long way to go if women are to enjoy the same access and rights as men. Looking at UN’s  this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Equal access to education, training, and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women,” indeed it is a very vital goal to be accomplished, however it’s extremely overwhelming when I look back and see the challenges ahead for women like those in Darfur.

For 8 years, while women around the globe have celebrated International Women’s Day, Darfuri women endure horror and fear every single hour of their existence. Since 2003, women in Darfur have been crying for security, protection and decent life with dignity as their minimum very basic rights, only to see handful promises from the international community.

Today as I am writing, rape and all forms of sexual violence has become part of the Darfuri women’s daily life, following news coming from on the ground in Darfur, at least 10 women are raped every week and these reports are only from those who can be able to speak or find someone who can speak for them. There are many more uncounted cases of those out of reach who can’t speak for themselves. After 8 years of suffering and oppression, it’s very unfortunate to see how the world leaders have failed the Darfuris by their inaction.

Listening to the Netherlands based Radio Dabanga, women have been asked in this occasion to describes  their situation, as one woman from Zalingi said, “in this special day we are not celebrating , because we have been deprived from  life, we are constantly oppressed and set to live in fear for being attacked at any time. The government has oppressed us through rape, starvation and forced us to live in salience, this is happening within the watch of the United Nations/African Union Mission (UNAMID) that is suppose to protect us”.

In Sudan today, the systematic rape have been extended by the government’s security apparatus to target even Darfuri women in the capital Khartoum as in case of Safia Ishag who was arrested following the students uprising and brutally raped by three national security agents. The government has also integrated violence against women into its state laws which legalize the flogging of women in public because of their choices such as of wearing pants.  On March 8th Sudanese women in Khartoum went out to denounce these state laws, leading a peaceful protest against women’s oppression and demanding legal reforms. Sadly over 40 women have been beaten, arrested, and forcefully kept for further interrogation.

As one of the first-hand witnesses to the horror against women in Darfur and Sudan at large, I am determined to continue to speak for them to remind the world of the forgotten plights of my fellow people in Darfur. We must remind those leaders who have not kept their promises and call upon women leaders, particularly in the United States such as Secretary of the State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the US ambassador for global women’s issues, who have shown commitment to women issues that Darfuri women need your voices and demand your commitment to lead and rally the support for ending the tragic conditions that have surrounded their make shift camps for 8 years in Darfur. As women leaders, with competence and capability it’s imperative that you become the voice for those who are left voiceless in Darfur, and you should not allow the indicted genocidal criminal Al-Basher to rule over their destiny.

I urge the attention of women leaders worldwide, those who have devoted themselves to fight for women’s rights, to tell the world that Darfuri women need protection, security and safety. I call upon those who have committed to fight impunity that achieving justice and accountability for the crimes committed against the Darfuri women is morally imperative.

Finally, I can’t let this moment goes without recognizing the remarkable role played by Netherlands based Radio Dabanaga,  which lunched special radio program devoted to give Darfuri women a voice. It does not only give them the hope that they can now make their voices heard, but it will bring their plight to the attention of the world community. If a little radio can give a woman a voice, then why not the United Nations with its huge operation, or why does the United States not take such practical steps that can substantially benefit women? It’s evident that if we can’t do everything we can still do something that can tangibly improve the life of women in some areas that they need the most.

 

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Posted in Activism, Activist Stories, African Union, China and Sudan, Congress, Darfur, Darfuri Stories, Emerging Crises, Events, genocide prevention, Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, ICC / Justice, IDP Camps, Obama Administration, Omar al-Bashir, Peacekeeping, United Nations, Violence Against Women | No Comments »

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Senate Measure Restoring Humanitarian Aid Fails to Pass

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Yesterday, the Senate voted on two spending initiatives. The first was the funding bill, H.R.1, passed by the House back in February, which severely cut life-saving humanitarian aid. The second was a Senate amendment to H.R.1, S.AMDT149, that restored funding to critical humanitarian accounts. As was predicted, neither measure passed.

See how your Senators voted:

We are in strong opposition the international affairs budget cuts in H.R.1. The international affairs account not only includes funding for humanitarian aid, but for genocide prevention. Given that the Senate amendment would have restored funding for genocide prevention as well as humanitarian aid, we had hoped that S.AMDT.149 would have passed.

Senate Funding Numbers Mark Success

In the past several weeks, we have fought hard to ensure that the Senate would restore funding to three humanitarian accounts. We were very pleased that S.AMDT.149 fully restored the Food for Peace ($687 million more than H.R.1), International Disaster Assistance ($449 million), and Migration and Refugee Assistance ($662 million) accounts. The accounts are critical in responding to ongoing needs in Sudan, as well as in places like Libya.

Funding Fight Continues

Although the Senate amendment did not pass, we will continue to push the Senate to restore humanitarian aid along similar lines. The House and Senate have until March 18 to pass identical bills. The final version will then need the President’s signature before midnight on the 18th. If this doesn’t happen the United States will face a government shutdown. As always, we will keep you posted.

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Senate Introduces Funding Bill, Restores Humanitarian Aid

Monday, March 7th, 2011

The Past Several Weeks in Review

For weeks we have been tracking Congressional legislation that would fund the United States Government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. There has been a great deal of concern over cuts passed by the House of Representatives that would disproportionately impact life-saving humanitarian aid. The cuts proposed by the House put lives at risk and jeopardize national security. This money is needed to save lives and prevent mass atrocities in areas around the world like Sudan and Libya.

Since the House Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R.1) passed on February 19, we’ve been looking to the Senate to restore critical humanitarian aid funding. Fortunately, the Senate introduced an amendment at the end of last week that would restore money to most of these life-saving accounts.

Senate Amendment Seeks to Restore Critical Funding

Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee

As introduced by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Senate Amendment 149 (S.AMDT.149) increases the International Disaster Assistance Account by $449 million and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Account by $662 million. These increases recognize the mounting pressure that will be placed on both accounts by the crises unfolding in North Africa and the Middle East.

Here is the Senate Appropriations Committee summary of the entire international affairs budget as proposed by S.AMDT.149.

Additionally, S.AMDT.149 includes monetary allocations for accounts related to genocide prevention. The Senate restored $45 million for the Complex Crises Fund and $39.49 million for the United States Institute for Peace. Funding for both of these accounts had been completely zeroed out in the House version.

What’s Next?

Tomorrow, March 8, 2011, the Senate is expected to take two votes. One will be on the House funding bill, H.R.1, and the other on the Senate Amendment, S.AMDT.149, which restores critical funding. It is anticipated that neither bill will receive the 60 votes needed to pass.

The House and Senate will have until March 18 to pass identical bills. Once this happens, the final version will need the President’s signature before midnight on the 18th. If this doesn’t happen the United States will face a government shutdown. We will keep you posted as things develop.

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International Affairs Funding: The National Security Argument

Friday, March 4th, 2011

Funding for the international affairs account of the United States budget—in addition to saving lives—is a critical investment toward advancing national security interests. Unfortunately, common misconceptions have reinforced a view that national security is provided solely through defense spending. This view sidelines critical international affairs programs, which puts U.S. interests at risk. Combating these misconceptions among policy makers offers a crucial opportunity.

The White House

Top Government Officials Connect State & USAID Funding to National Security
The United States Government funds the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through discretionary funding accounts. Discretionary accounts are allocated each year and offer Congress the opportunity to decide how much money will be spent on specific programs. As part of the process, each U.S. President submits a budget to Congress in advance of the upcoming fiscal year and top Government officials publicly defend the needs of their program.

On March 2, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on State Department funding saying:

It is no longer possible in the 21st century to say that you are walling off national security by going after non-defense discretionary spending. We are so much more integrated and interdependent, and it would force us to scale back dramatically on critical missions that are absolutely supported by Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, General Petraeus and others.

Although almost exclusively involved in defending his own budget, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has made groundbreaking statements on the relationship between national security and non-defense spending. Almost a year after taking the secretary position during the Administration of President George W. Bush, a New York Times article detailed comments made by Gates:

One priority is money, Mr. Gates said. He called for “a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security—diplomacy, strategic communications, foreign assistance, civic action and economic reconstruction and development.”

Critically—throughout his tenure as Secretary of Defense—Gates has continued to call on Congress to fully fund the State Department and other civilian-led programs citing their importance for national security.

Secretaries Clinton and Gates appear on Meet the Press in April 2010 Photo Credit: William B. Plowman/Meet the Press/AP

One of the best examples of this coordinated effort to protect civilian funding in the interest of national security occurred almost a year ago when Secretaries Gates and Clinton appeared together on Meet the Press to oppose cuts to the State Department Budget.

USAID has been engaged in a similar fight. Most notably the current head of the agency, Rajiv Shah, defended funding as a national security issues in an interview conducted by Foreign Policy:

Shah pointed out that Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, and [International Security Assistance Force] Commander Gen. David Petraeus have all come out in strong support of increasing USAID’s capacity to do foreign aid.

“In the military they call us a high-value, low-density partner because we are of high value to the national security mission but there aren’t enough of us and we don’t have enough capability,” he said. “This is actually a much, much, much more efficient investment than sending in our troops, not even counting the tremendous risk to American lives when we have to do that.”

Shah’s comments underscore that spending on international affairs would actually need to be increased, not decreased in order for the United States to meet its national security objectives.

Members of Congress Jeopardize National Security through Budget Cuts

Despite repeated calls from top military officials that State Department and USAID programs be adequately funded in the interest of national security, Congress continues to put civilian-side funding on the chopping block. Most recently, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill, H.R.1, that cuts the international affairs budget by 21 percent over the President’s request. In fact when announcing proposed cuts in the bill that would fund the U.S. Government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year, the entire international affairs budget was put in the category of “non-security” spending. These cuts (100 million as promised by some members of Congress) were focused solely on “non-security” discretionary funding and did not touch the sections of the budget that constitute the vast majority of U.S. spending. The result was a disproportionate impact on the international affairs account that makes up approximately 1 percent of the entire budget.

Unfortunately, some leaders of the movement to drastically reduce foreign aid spending include many of the members of Congress that you would expect to support this critical funding. These members include Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger (R-TX), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Both of these Representatives have pledged to cut international affairs funding in 2011 and 2012.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations

Fortunately, many on the Senate side—including a leader on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Aid, Lindsey Graham (R-SC)—understand the importance of the international affairs budget. Speaking of the need to increase funding to support the work of State and USAID in conflict areas, Graham said, “The way I look at it is, it’s national security insurance that we’re buying.”

It will be left to members of the Senate to fight to restore critical funding for the remainder of 2011. Specific to our work on genocide prevention and response, this funding includes accounts related to life-saving humanitarian aid and genocide prevention. Investing resources to effectively prevent and respond to crises is cost-effective and a critical means of advancing our security interests abroad.

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