This event came 12 years after the creation of the Court through its founding Rome Statue and 7 years after the ICC entered into force, helping the world start to transition from an era of absolute impunity to an era of accountability for the most serious crimes. The Review Conference came at a very critical time, as there was a great need for the ICC and its members to gather to address the multiple challenges that the Court has encountered in its work, and to improve the Court’s interaction with and responsiveness to victims and communities affected by atrocities. Member states needed this review meeting to examine their commitments to the Court many had participated in creating.

The ICC Review Conference provided a huge window of opportunity for the world community to reiterate its commitment to the fight against impunity. For example, the European Union and its 27 member states count themselves among the most ardent supporters of the ICC. At the conference, the representative of the European Parliament made a particularly strong statement of the EU’s commitment to ensuring cooperation with the Court and the execution of the pending arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. Other positive examples of countries seizing the opportunity presented by the Review Conference included the leading role played by the Latin American state parties; the clear statements of commitments to justice made by the African states parties; pro-active initiatives from Asian states including Bangladesh becoming the 111^th country to join the ICC after ratifying the Rome Statute just prior to the Review Conference; as well as the general support by the non state parties and NGOs. All this, along with a clear recognition by nearly all participants of the importance of the role of civil society, sent a profound message about the value of the Court and of international justice. Holding the Review Conference in Kampala presented an exceptional opportunity for victims and affected communities from Uganda and other parts of the region to participate in the deliberations.

One important thing I noted was many non-state parties who were opposing or actively undermining the court less than 10 years ago were now revising their previous behavior and seeking alliance and engagement with the court. It seems that the ICC has become an unavoidable reality as an international institution. This situation makes me recall the Darfuri proverb which would advise you to clean your backyard before bringing an important guest to your house. Its means, unless you are confident about yourself don’t deal with something that may affect you negatively. It seems like the non-state parties are now cleaning their backyards before bringing the ICC as the guest to their homes by ratifying the Rome Statute. I should also use this opportunity to applaud the people and the government of Uganda, who have made history in hosting this conference and have set a precedent for the people of the continent to follow.

The Review Conference had two major parts. The first was the stocktaking exercise on topics related to the Court’s work so far, including: (1) Victims and Affected Communities; (2)  Complementarily, including reinforcing states’ commitments to strengthen national justice systems to exercise jurisdiction over international crimes committed within their territories; (3) Peace and Justice; and (4) Cooperation. The stocktaking sessions were attended by high level diplomats from all over the world, and were filled with strong public declarations of support for the Court. Summaries of the conclusions of the four stocktaking exercises are available at: www.icc/asp/RC.

The second portion of the Review Conference was dedicated to considering amendments to the Rome Statute, most importantly a discussion on whether and how to include the crime of aggression as a crime over which the ICC can exercise its jurisdiction. Finally on Friday June 11^th around midnight, after a long debate, the Assembly of States Parties reached a decision on the definition of the crime of aggression to include in the crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction. The conclusion was an important milestone toward achieving global peace and security through the enforcement of international justice. Replacing the rule of force with the force of law is a moral imperative.

The Review Conference’s deliberations and discussions were very fruitful, constructive and productive. Almost all the states parties, observers and NGOs were able to actively interact with each other regarding the topics on the table, and there was no disagreement about the fact that recent crises have only increased the demand for effective international justice. The Conference also provided more clarity on the issues of “peace and justice” and affirmed that there should be no impunity for international crimes. In the stocktaking exercise on peace and justice, the participants agreed on the need to recognize the paradigm shift that has been brought about by the ICC — that justice is not a tool for punishment, but a critical tool for prevention of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Moreover, the purpose of justice is to help correct harm done and help guarantee that there is no retaliation for atrocities in the future – imperative, in my view, for any resolution of a conflict to be sustainable.

I experienced the Review Conference in two different ways: as an advocate, and as a survivor of the crimes in Darfur.

As an advocate, I was proud to be part of a huge global community of advocates for justice joining together to shape a global campaign to fight impunity. The effective interaction among the participants from various entities showed me a new reality: that the world has become smaller and more conscientious than ever before, and that it is now extremely intolerant of impunity for the massive human rights abuses that are too often perpetrated by leaders in countries like Sudan who assume that they will be able to escape with impunity. No, that is no longer the case! This is not happening because of any particular love that the world community has for people who have suffered in other corners of the world, or any particular hate for those who have perpetrated the crimes.  Instead it is because many leaders around the globe have become more mindful of the need to protect the rights of their own citizens, citizens of their region, and of course the world’s citizens at large.

Experiencing the Review Conference as a survivor and member of a community affected by crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction was a deep test for me. My experience began with a football (soccer) game for victims at the opening of the conference that brought together victims of war crimes from northern Uganda and other parts of region. The game was organized by the Ugandan Victims Foundation and other NGOs. Victims played football with high-level delegates included the president of Uganda, the UN Secretary General and the president of the President of the ICC Assembly of the State Parties (ASP). The game made it clear to me the profound nature of the conference participant’s commitment to victim’s rights and the restoration of their dignity. The game just by itself gave the participating victims the chance to feel a tangible impact of the ICC on their lives. They gained more confidence in their ability to use their talents and skills, evidenced by their active participation throughout the conference deliberations, side events in the People’s Space, and during the NGO strategy meetings organized by the CICC. Their voices were clearly heard, and their perspectives were integral in shaping the Review Conference agenda and resolutions.

The overall experience was a profound healing process that will bring recognition to victims of war crimes and empower them to build healthy communities, free from oppression and violence, which is necessary for the sustainable resolution of any crisis. I witnessed how yesterday’s victims have become strong voices for human rights and the top advocates for justice, not only at the Review Conference, but throughout the world. Many expressed hope for the prospect for peace in Northern Uganda, particularly in light of the ICC arrest warrant for Joseph Kony of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), despite his reported escape from Uganda into neighboring countries. I was amazed by the many voices among the states parties, court officials, and civil society representatives who strongly advocated on behalf of victims. The ICC Prosecutor was another leading advocate for victims rights, stressing victims’ right to compensation and reparation for harm and losses suffered, and that such compensation should not be delayed until the end of trails.

The entire conference was an important learning process for all who participated. Just as Kampala has shown that those who advocate for justice are open to learning in order to improve their work, I hope that perpetrators like Sudan’s president al-Bashir will learn and change, and if not, that time is capable of changing them. For me the Review Conference has achieved its goals, and its impact will yield positive results in the both the short and long runs of our journey to bring about justice. The greatest remaining challenge will be in how states parties live up to and follow up on commitments to advancing the Court’s work that they made in Kampala. I strongly believe the declaration made by many states parties throughout the conference that they did not labor to set up the ICC only to see it fail. It was clear to me that they, and all conference participants, were committed to ensuring its success in bringing justice for the gravest crimes.

In conclusion, what I can take from Kampala to my people in Darfur? In reality, I came back from Kampala with a hope and a confidence that I would like to share with my suffering community in Darfur and with the Darfuri diaspora community. My message to them is:

Congratulations for the choice you have made by unanimously supporting the ICC and demanding your right to have access to long-awaited justice. You have become a part of a world community of conscience that has stood in the right side of morality and said no to impunity for the most heinous crimes. Rest assured that after the commitment that I have witnessed in Kampala, despite the multiple challenges faced by the ICC, justice for the victims of injustice in Darfur will be a reality in your lifetime. No matter how long the road, the base has been established and the promise of justice will come into reality.

Worldwide, 41.2 million people have been forced from their homes by conflict. Over 5 million of those people are from Sudan.

Millions of Sudanese still live in camps in Sudan or just across the border in Chad, Kenya, and other neighboring countries. But it’s estimated that since 1975, over 22,000 Sudanese have joined the approximately 2.5 million refugees from all over the world who live in the United States.

For years, activists – Sudanese and American – have advocated for peace in Sudan. This year, in honor of World Refugee Day, members of the Sudan advocacy community will sit down and share a meal together, to spend time learning about each other through conversation and food.

Join the Genocide Intervention Network and the Save Darfur Coalition on or around World Refugee Day this Sunday, June 20, to meet with members of the Sudanese diaspora, refugees, and activists who live in your community. There are already more than 80 meet-ups organized around the world.

Come together for a meal and share your stories. Learn what you can do together to advocate to improve the conditions in which many refugee communities live.

Here in Washington, D.C., we’ll be sharing a meal at the Save Darfur Coalition offices. Everyone will bring a dish that’s “traditional” for them – so we’re making  Shoo Fly Pie, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food, and Nyaba, a traditional southern Sudanese dish.

We know these types of events bring individuals and communities closer. Jimmy’s group, Voices for Sudan, has organized a couple of meal events for Sudanese and American friends working on Sudan together. Through these events new ideas and new energy have emerged.

We hope you’ll take some time this weekend to share a meal, a story, or an opportunity for action. Sign up to attend or host a World Refugee Day potluck or event in your area. And please let us know how it goes!

Jimmy Mulla is the president of the U.S.-based Voices for Sudan. He moved to the United States in 1996 from Egypt. Martha Heinemann Bixby is the director of campaigns and outreach at the Save Darfur Coalition in Washington, D.C.

** UPDATE **

Video from the event is available above and on the Cato Institute’s website.

****

Sean Brooks, Save Darfur’s Senior Policy Analyst, will be speaking at a Cato Institute policy forum tomorrow afternoon to discuss Sudan in the post-election period. You can register to attend the event (at Cato’s headquarters in Washington, DC) or watch it live on their website.

POLICY FORUM
Friday, June 11, 2010
Noon (Luncheon to Follow)

Featuring Sean Brooks, Save Darfur Coalition; Marc Gustafson, Marshall Scholar, Oxford University; Jon Temin, U.S. Institute for Peace; moderated by Justin Logan, Associate Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute.

The Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

On a beautiful spring day, hundreds of people passing through Union Square stopped at rally headquarters under the statue of George Washington, signing postcards to President Obama and making phone calls to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton through the Genocide Intervention hotline, calling on both to lead the international community in denouncing flaws in the elections and in ensuring that the election does not legitimize President Omar al-Bashir.

Individuals who made a call on the GI-Net hotline received a cookie from UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide. A 6′-long letter also was addressed to Hillary Clinton, and signed by bystanders. Volunteers distributed fliers containing actions that anyone can take for Sudan and Darfur:  they spoke with onlookers, explaining how international support for free and fair elections is critical to reducing conflict throughout Sudan and to encouraging an environment of civil and political freedoms imperative to a legitimate 2011 referendum on the future of South Sudan.

This event formed one part of the Sudan365 global campaign, which highlights the need for urgent international attention to Sudan to ensure that international engagement is not “business as usual” during this critical year leading up to the end of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’s (CPA) interim period, and the 2011 referendum for self-determination for South Sudan.  Events were held in as about 20 countries, including Holland, Mali, Serbia, Senegal, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Israel, South Africa, Togo, the UK, Bahrain, Mauritania, the US, Norway, Burkina Faso, Italy, and Yemen. Coverage of these events can be seen on the Sudan 365 website.

The event in New York was coordinated by the New York City Coalition for Darfur , the Brooklyn Coalition for Darfur, UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide, the Darfur People’s Association of New York , the International Refugee Rights Initiative,  and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. Drumming was led by Gary Fritz and Friends and the Brooklyn Drum Circle Meet-up; and a local dance class performed in front of the drummers. Speakers at the event included Sharon Silber of the New York City Coalition to Save Darfur, Olivia Bueno of the International Refugee Rights Initiative,  Neiki Ullah of UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide, and four Darfuri members of the Darfur People’s Association of New York.

Emily Cody of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies read a statement on behalf of Director Osman Hummaida, calling for elections to be postponed and detailing several electoral violations, including targeting of opposition groups and civil society through restrictions on the freedom of expression and speech.  A leader of the Darfur People’s Association of New York spoke of the unfair nature of the elections, including political marginalization and access to voting in Darfur and the ongoing dire situation of lack of humanitarian access and violence. He reported incidents where food had been withheld to communities in order to influence voting.  All of the speakers commented on the precarious stakes for elections and the end of the interim period, as has been exemplified through the tenuous environment for political opposition members and their supporters, recent attacks on the Jebel Marra region of Darfur, and ongoing insecurity in South Sudan.

The event was spearheaded by the New York Coalition for Darfur a member of the Save Darfur Coalition , and DarfurMetro , which is an umbrella group of advocacy organizations focused on Sudan and Darfur throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The NYC Coalition for Darfur always welcomes new members, and encourages any interested people to attend their monthly meeting. The next meeting of the NYC Coalition for Darfur is Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 8pm at the Church of St Paul & St Andrew on West 86 Street. Many thanks to all the wonderful New York metro activists who came out and made this day a great success!
Photos from the April 10, 2010 event can be seen at the Sudan365 Flickr site here.

Blogpost authored by Sharon Silber, Laura Limuli, and Eileen Weiss of the New York City Coalition for Darfur

Imam Abdul-Malik, Archbishop Aykazian, Kirk Betts, Ruth Messinger, Galen Carey and Rev. White-Hammond gather in front of the Capitol Building

Last week, I attended a prayer breakfast hosted by the Interfaith Sudan Working Group (ISWG), a coalition of Jewish, Muslim and Christian organizations working together for a lasting peace in Sudan. Since its founding several years ago, the group has held multiple events to raise awareness of the conflict.

The prayer breakfast brought advocates, clergy and Congressional staff together to discuss the need for peace and an end to human suffering in Sudan, particularly as the elections approach.

In working with our coalition and activists, I am constantly struck by the diversity of the movement – people of all ages, political affiliations, faith traditions and life experiences have come together to say that they can no longer “stand idly by.” Faith leaders at the breakfast came from the American Jewish World Service, Muslim Alliance in North America, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Episcopal Church, Lutheran World Relief, the Armenian Church of America, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judiasm and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Following the breakfast, the Interfaith Sudan Working Group delivered copies of the children’s fairy tale book, Humpty Dumpty, to all 535 Members of Congress as a reminder that the situation in Sudan is fragile and could break at any second. Read more about the event here and email melissa@savedarfur.org to learn about how your faith community can be involved in Sudan advocacy.

Rev. David Emmanuel Goatley, Ph.D., is Chairman of the NAACP International Affairs Committee.

At the NAACP, our work in the global arena sometimes elicits the following kind of question. “With all the ills in the United States, why should we be involved in the problems in those countries?” There are at least three principle reasons you should engage globally.

First, if you intend to be relevant, you have to be global. We are interconnected in economics, politics, entertainment, and the like. Every time you purchase something, you are participating in the global economy. You have a vested interest in what is happening in the world for your personal well-being.

Second, if you don’t make the world a better place “over there,” you will soon suffer the consequences “right here.” The ease of global communication and transportation makes the creep of problems around the world inevitable. Remember the Asian Flu and HIV?

Third, making this world a better place for all is the work of mature and responsible people. We are interdependent and interconnected. How can you know that a child is starving or a woman is raped or a family’s home is burned and not be moved add your voice to the call for peace and justice?

Sudan is a country where unimaginable human atrocities are continuing. Despite modest steps of progress, there are still gross displays of inhumane treatment of individuals, families, and communities. The NAACP is joining the Save Darfur Coalition to call for people who believe in peace, justice, and security to join in a global day of action on Sudan on January 9, 2010.

January 9, 2010 marks the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan and one year out from the referendum that will determine whether the Southern region of Sudan will separate from the North. With many highly contentious issues still to be resolved, with growing violence in the South and unresolved conflict in Darfur, there is a real risk of a return to widespread conflict that could destabilize the entire region and place civilians in grave danger.

On January 9th, groups from across the world will join together and call on their leaders to take urgent diplomatic action to prevent a return to violence in Sudan. Events are being held in Mali, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Kenya, London, Edinburgh, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Cairo and other places to be confirmed.

The event in Washington, DC will begin at 11 AM and feature powerful drumming, footage of celebrity drummers from around the world joining the beat, and words from Sudanese survivors and leaders in the movement for peace in Sudan.

Who: Save Darfur Coalition
What: Sudan 365: Drumming for Peace Event
When: 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 9, 2009
Where: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (1313 New York Ave, NW; Washington, DC)

After the short program we will march to Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. Please bring a drum or other percussion instrument if you would like to join in the drumming, and a sign if you would like to join the march.

Additional events in the United States events will take place that day in:

San Francisco, CA
Congregation Emanu-El
2 Lake Street; San Francisco, CA 94118
6:45 PM – 8:45 PM

Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd; Los Angeles, CA 90024
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

New York, NY
Washington Square Park
W 4th St and Waverly Pl; New York, NY 10012
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Additional U.S. events are being added. For more information, please visit the Sudan365 page on Save Darfur’s website.

Greetings to all fighting the good fight for Darfur! I am writing to you from Los Angeles, CA where our adjunct activist group, The Rise Up Coalition, recently produced the official Save Darfur Concert at the Knitting Factory-Hollywood on Sept 15, 2009. (www.savedarfurconcertla.com) The concert was a mad dash since we did not get confirmation of the venue until 5 weeks before date and for the bands, 3 weeks before the date. I tested the sanity of our PR team with this timetable, but we gave it our best shot and got the word out.

The focus of the night was empowerment. We wanted the concertgoer to leave motivated and inspired to change the world. Our formula was get them in the doors via a knock out, eclectic musical line-up and an open vodka bar from 7-8. We then got them in the “global” mood by dressing the venue with Save Darfur and other global activist paraphernalia: flags, banners, posters, shirts, hats, etc. We were blessed with great looking aspiring models and actors as bartenders, bar-backs, and security (this is LA, after all), and their form fitting Save Darfur shirts did not hurt sales either.

As the concert-goer moved through the space, tables were set up for Save Darfur, JWW, Stop Genocide Now, Amnesty International, and Enough!.

Our awesome representatives had petitions, information, and gear to sell. The bands started their sets with easy singer/songwriters then

escalated to funk, hip hop, reggae, and finally rock and roll. A multimedia presentation played on all the flat screens throughout the venue, including a projection screen on the stage itself which was a subtitled reel detailing all 5 organizations in attendance and how they served Darfur and the Congo. As artists like Rocky Dawuni jammed on, images of Darfurians and Congolese children played in the background. The concertgoer might have come for the music or open vodka bar, but they were enveloped in a world of activism, and invited to see the faces of those they were helping.

In between each set, our celebrity host, Todd Newton from E!, introduced a representative from each of the agencies for a quick empowerment speech about their fight to eradicate global atrocities and inviting involvement. Gabriel Stauring from Stop Genocide Now, roused a concert hall full of rockers to take out their cell phones and text Hillary Clinton “I STAND FOR THE SUDAN.” People learned how simple every day actions can aid the cause:

putting the White House on their speed dial and calling everyday or taking part in an international day of fasting for peace.

The concert goer not only heard a great line-up of music, but also listened to 5 activist organizations each take different approaches to fighting the

same fight; maybe they were attracted to the political activism of Save Darfur, or perhaps they preferred the petition signing of Amnesty International. There was something for everyone each leading to the same goal of ending these horrible atrocities.

There are a million causes out there, but how many focus on funding the individual rather than the individual funding them? If every decision we make, every band we hire, and every speaker we choose is focused on the objective of empowering the individual to change the world, then we might just reach our goal of raising the next generation of global activists. Change will not happen in Darfur or the Eastern Congo unless our political leaders are placing the right pressure upon the likes of Bashir and company. We want to do our part in helping to rise up this army of activists and lead them to every senator’s and congressman’s door. To knock and knock loudly until change in the Sudan and Congo happens.

We look forward to the next event. Rise up.

-Christian Anderson, Rise Up Coalition

www.christianandersononline.com

If you’ve got an idea for an event and would like some help in putting it on, please contact will[at]savedarfur[dot]org.

Jerry Fowler, Dr. Mohammed Abdallah, Bec Hamilton, Michelle Gavin

This weekend the Save Darfur Coalition joined the Pledge2Protect conference here in Washington, DC.  Hosted by STAND: The Sudent Anti-Genocide Coalition, the Save Darfur Coalition and the Enough Project, the conference sought to create an experience for participants that will empower them to become stronger leaders on their campuses and in their communities while demonstrating the strength of the movement to end genocide to policymakers on Capitol Hill.

The coalition hosted the Sudan Plenary, which featured NSC Senior Director for African Affairs Michelle Gavin, author Bec Hamilton, physician and professor at al-Fasher University and former Director at Amel Center for torture victims in Darfur Dr. Mohammed Abdallah, Representative Mike Capuano (MA-08) and Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler.

During the plenary, Representative McGovern told the conference attendees,  “Everyone in this hall is essential to peace… To ending genocide. You are the engine, the energy” and instructed them: “you need to make sure your representative knows this matters to you!”

Michelle Gavin said she was “energized by this gathering” and told the audience:  “you have one of the most important roles in this important time period we’re in now” for Sudan.  Gavin also noted that “history shows us when activists come together on key issues we become closer to the America we want to be” and asked that activists “help [the government] keep focused on the fact that what needs to change is the situation on the ground in Sudan.”

In addition, the coalition hosted the following panels:

Building Effective Sticks & Carrots for Sudan
Free & Fair? Or Fraud & Failure? The Election & Referendum in Sudan
Protecting Civilians in Sudan
Imagination as an Advocacy Tool: Bringing the Arts into the Picture
Sudanese Voices on Lasting Peace & Stability in Sudan: Challenges & the Way Forward
Peacemaking in Sudan
Wars against Women & the Pursuit of Peace: the Case of Darfur
The International Advocacy Movement on Sudan: A Conversation with Global Advocacy Leaders
Sudanese Voices on Lasting Peace & Stability in Sudan: Challenges & the Way Forward

And coalition staff helped equip activists with the tools they need on the following panels:

Congress 201: Building Political Will
Moved by Faith: Activism, Advocacy, & Genocide Prevention
Media 101: Marketing Your Cause
Fundraising 101: Effective Fundraising from $5 to $50,000
From the Experts: Running a Community Coalition

You can see more of the conference by checking out the twitter stream and our photos.

Darfur - Rebecca Davis Dance Company

Prior to the event, various organizations and members of the dance company’s Board of Trustees had a dinner meeting at the theatre to discuss the connections between art and activism. The group brainstormed ways in which organizations can embrace art to increase awareness about their specific causes, including Darfur, and how to translate this awareness into action.

The highlight of the evening was the performance itself. The Rebecca Davis Dance Company performed four excerpts from its ballet “Darfur” and Rebecca, the owner and head choreographer, spoke about significance of the scenes and her inspiration for the show. Rebecca first became interested in Darfur after reading several articles in the New York Times on the genocide, written by Nicholas Kristof. In an effort to learn more, she picked up Brian Steidle and Gretchen Steidle Wallace’s book The Devil Came on Horseback. This book inspired her to create a ballet which tells the story of a family in Darfur whose lives have been drastically affected by the genocide, as well as the story of those working in the international community to put an end the violence.  In addition to the ballet, clips were shown from Brian Steidle’s film The Devil Came on Horseback and from the documentary Women in War Zones, which focuses on the effects of sexual violence on women in conflict ridden areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Before and after the show, organizations including Save Darfur, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Amnesty International, the Enough Project, the Darfur Information Center and the Darfur Alert Coalition, were able to meet with audience members in the lobby to discuss Darfur and other conflicts. We were thrilled to see how much interest there was following the performance from the audience and the dancers themselves in gaining more information about what was happening and what individuals could do to make a difference.

This production was beautifully put together and I would highly recommend it to anybody who loves dance or is interested in Darfur. For more information on the Rebecca Davis Dance Company and future tour dates for “Darfur” visit www.rebeccadavisdance.com.

Rebecca Dennis is a fall intern at the Save Darfur Coalition

One of our mobile billboards in downtown Pittsburgh

If you can read this you can save lives in Sudan.

That was the message that we brought to world leaders in New York at the U.N. General Assembly and in Pittsburgh at the G20 summit last month.  We also brought them your messages – your reminders in photos and petitions to those world leaders: Don’t Forget Darfur.

Take a moment to check out what we accomplished together:

During our street actions in New York we delivered your 45,383 petition signatures to Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration. In the short program before the Darfur/Darfur exhibit began, General Gration told the crowd:

“And this letter that I’ve got from you all is very important. I’ll make sure that the President gets this, and that he understands the concern that America has to solve this problem in a very expeditious way; a concern that we’ll see in these pictures… What you’re doing is so important to bring the visibility and the pressures to bear, so that we can take the appropriate actions in Darfur to make a difference in the lives of people who deserve this and a lot more.”

—Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration

In Pittsburgh, President Obama drove by our street teams—and waved at our activists holding signs along the route to the G20 opening dinner.  Also in Pittsburgh we held a live webcast policy briefing on “Sudan and the G20: what the world’s richest countries can do.”  In combination with our TV ads, print and billboard ads these actions reminded world leaders that they can all save lives in Sudan.

Check out what we accomplished together during our United Nations and G20 “Don’t Forget Darfur” campaign by taking a few minutes to see our TV and print ads, policy briefing, photos of our street actions, and our new “Don’t Forget Darfur” video on YouTube.