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Pressure on Syrian Regime Increases As Violence against Civilians Continues

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Graph Credit: Foreign Policy Magazine, "The Grim Toll of Syria's Violence"

Over the past several days, the international community has worked to increase pressure on the Syrian government as violence continues.

The United Nations (UN) has said that at least 3,500 have been killed over the past eight months as government forces violently target civilians throughout the country.

Report Finds “Gross Violations of Human Rights” in Syria

In a report released today, the Independent International Commission on Syria found that “gross violations of human rights have been committed by Syrian military and security forces since the beginning of the protests in March 2011.”

Commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, the report expressed concern about documented patterns of “summary execution, arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture, including sexual violence, as well as violations of children’s rights.” The report also found that at least 250 children have been killed as a result of the violence. (more…)

Tags: Arab League, China, commission of inquiry, crimes against humanity, League of Arab States, Russia, sanctions, Syria, UNGA, UNHRC, United Nations, UNSC
Posted in Syria | Comments Off

September 19, 2010: Global Day for Sudan

Friday, October 1st, 2010

This post was co-authored by Hannah Woit and Ariana Harner.

Thousands of activists in 14 countries around the world and in New York, LA, and Washington, DC gathered on September 19^th for a global day of action for Sudan. Activists urged world leaders to support a timely, free and fair execution of the referendum scheduled for January 2011 in accordance with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and sent a powerful signal to the international community that people care about ensuring a peaceful future for Sudan.

New York:

The activities in New York began with a viewing and discussion of “Darfurian Voices,” a project by 24 Hours for Darfur documenting interviews with Darfuris in refugee camps.

Viewing "Darfurian Voices" / Photo by Martha Bixby

Discussing "Darfurian Voices" / Photo by Martha Bixby

We then rallied in front of the UN headquarters alongside Darfuris and Southern Sudanese who had traveled to New York from all over the east coast to challenge President Obama and other leaders at the U.N. General Assembly to take responsibility for ensuring justice and respect for human rights in Sudan.

Rallying at the United Nations / Photo by Martha Bixby

Activists and Sudanese diaspora members then moved onto Lincoln Center to participate in Stand Up Against Poverty, an event aimed at calling attention to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The concluding portion focused on Sudan and featured dancing and music, which drew quite a crowd!

Sudanese dancers at Stand Up / Photo by Martha Bixby

Sudanese musicians / Photo by Martha Bixby

(more…)

Tags: Activism, Barack Obama, Events, Obama Administration, President Obama, Sudan, UNGA, United Nations
Posted in Activism, Events, Obama Administration, Referendum, Uncategorized, United Nations | 1 Comment »

VSF: “All-Sudan approach” Needed at U.N. Sudan Summit

Friday, September 24th, 2010

United Nations Headquarters in New York City

Jimmy Mulla, president of Voices for Sudan, sent a memo yesterday to world leaders in New York City this week, encouraging them to use “an all-Sudan approach” while discussing how to tackle the current crises in Sudan at the September 24^th U.N. Summit on Sudan. The memo, addressed to President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya Ambassador Zachary D. Muburi-Muita, outlines four areas of concern:

Regarding the Abyei Area, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile: Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Abyei will hold a referendum on being part of the north or south, yet Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile are entitled to a vaguely-defined “popular consultation” regarding the CPA’s implementation. This ambiguity may diminish the people of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile’s power to influence the final agreement.
Regarding Eastern Sudan: The Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement has not been fully implemented, which has effectively marginalized some groups. VSF implores Summit participants to “seize the opportunity to ensure that human rights abuses and the political, social and economic marginalization of the Beja People in Eastern Sudan are improved so that a return to sustainable economic development, peace and security is realized. In doing so, humanitarian aid workers and other relief and development organizations should be allowed free and safe access to the Beja areas to help the population.”
Regarding Nubia Region: Dam construction is threatening populations and several areas of historical importance.
Regarding Justice and Accountability: Both are essential for an enduring peace in Sudan. Thus, VSF urges world leaders to push for the enforcement of the outstanding ICC arrest warrants for those who have committed (and continue to commit) crimes in Sudan.

“The situation in Sudan remains fragile and a return to war would be a humanitarian disaster of massive proportions, potentially displacing millions of people in all parts of the country, North-South-the three contested areas, Darfur, Eastern Sudan and further destabilizing the region,” Mulla warns.

Tags: CPA, UNGA, United Nations, Voices for Sudan
Posted in Obama Administration, Referendum, Uncategorized, United Nations | No Comments »

A Global Call for Justice

Monday, July 26th, 2010

On September 19th, the Big Apple will host one of many events that have become traditional for the movement pursuing peace in Sudan. “Global Days for Sudan” is a gathering of activists all across the world. There are many different locations and events, but the goals of all the determined activists are the same: peace and justice in Sudan. Members of countless activist groups are planning for the day. Luckily, they have a history of successful “Global Days” that have provided a persistent light down a sometimes dark path.

Activists in Melbourne, Australia beat their drums for Darfur. Uploaded on September 18, 2006 by The Lab.

The first Global Day for Darfur occurred on September 17, 2006, in concurrence with the sixty-first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The violence in Darfur was at its peak, and the united demands of activists around the world helped ensure that the genocide in Darfur did not go unnoticed. Since that pivotal September day, other Global Days have had similar results. In December 2006, one was planned to highlight rape and sexual violence in Darfur. On April 29, 2007 a third Global Day for Darfur called for the immediate deployment of a peacekeeping force to Darfur. More recently, in January and April of 2010, Global Days took place across the world once again, marked by the constant beat of drumsas famous and novice musicians alike played their drums for Darfur. Throughout their history, Global Days have served as a constant reminder that no individual or organization in the activist community for Sudan is alone.

The fight for peace and justice in Sudan is a battle fought by Irish, Dutch, Kenyans, and many other activists from every corner of this vast planet. Only by standing together can we ever hope to achieve the many goals for Sudan. Global Days allow us to do so, uniting our hopes and desires for a better future in Sudan.

Stay Posted. Further information regarding the upcoming events will be sent out as the big day approaches. All are welcome, and All are needed. If you wish to plan your own Global Day please let us know!

Tags: Activism, Global Days, Referendum, UNGA
Posted in ICC / Justice | No Comments »

If you can read this

Friday, October 9th, 2009

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.

Tags: action, Darfur, Darfur/Darfur, Events, G20, New York City, Pittsburgh, President Obama, Sudan, UNGA
Posted in Events, Sudan's Debt, United Nations | No Comments »

President Obama Addresses The United Nations General Assembly

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Yesterday, President Barack Obama made his first address to the United Nations General Assembly declaring a new era of American engagement. He called on all nations to work together to solve the world’s problems and spoke specifically about the need to pursue peace in Sudan.

Our efforts to promote peace, however, cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists for the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings, the belief that the future belongs to those who would build and not destroy, the confidence that conflicts can end and a new day can begin.

And that is why we will support — we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping while energizing our efforts to prevent conflicts before they take hold. We will pursue a lasting peace in Sudan through support for the people of Darfur and the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement so that we secure the peace that the Sudanese people deserve.

Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler said he was encouraged by President Obama’s words, but that concrete actions were necessary to end the crisis in Sudan:

Save Darfur is pleased that President Obama used his UN speech to reiterate his determination to pursue a lasting peace in Sudan. But, now he must turn these words into action by building an international coalition to apply incentives and pressures to push Khartoum to end the conflict in Darfur and fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The President should use the opportunity presented by the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh to encourage the world’s richest countries to leverage their economic influence to ensure that Khartoum’s debt is not forgiven until it makes concrete and lasting progress toward ending insecurity and instability in Darfur and throughout Sudan. The Save Darfur Coalition looks forward to the release of the administration’s long-overdue Sudan policy review, which we hope will outline the administration’s specific plan for achieving lasting peace in Sudan.

Tags: Darfur, Peacekeeping, President Obama, Sudan, UNGA
Posted in Obama Administration, United Nations | 2 Comments »

Darfur/Darfur at the 2009 U.N. General Assembly Session

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

We wrapped up the presentation of Darfur/Darfur a little after 10:00 p.m., but if you were not able to attend tonight you’ll have a second opportunity to see the exhibit tomorrow. Save Darfur is doing an encore showing tomorrow night starting at 7 p.m. in Grace Plaza (W 43rd St & 6th Ave).

We’ll have a full write-up of the event tomorrow, but we wanted to make sure we got a few shots up ASAP:

Tags: UNGA
Posted in United Nations | 1 Comment »

Darfur/Darfur Tonight In NYC

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

If you’re in the New York City area tonight please come by Grace Plaza (W 43rd St & 6th Ave) at 7 p.m. for a special screening of the Darfur/Darfur photo exhibit. The images will be projected at large-scale on the Grace Building and preceded by a brief program. U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler, Darfur/Darfur curator Leslie Thomas and photo journalist Ron Haviv will all be in attendance.

Right now, Save Darfur street teams are fanned out across midtown Manhattan promoting the exhibit and talking with people about the situation in Sudan. If you want to help out you can come by the Starbucks on Park Avenue near 42nd Street.

Tags: UNGA
Posted in United Nations | No Comments »

DARFUR/DARFUR comes to New York City – tonight!

Monday, September 21st, 2009

This evening, Tuesday, September 22, the Save Darfur Coalition will present DARFUR/DARFUR, a traveling exhibit of digitally-projected changing images that provide visual education about the richly multi-cultural region while exposing the horrors of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The images will be projected at large-scale in Grace Plaza in New York City, timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly, and preceded by a brief program. Speakers include U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler, Darfur/Darfur curator Leslie Thomas and photo journalist Ron Haviv. Please join us and spread the word! It will be at 1133 Avenue of the Americas (6^th Ave) and 43^rd Street, with remarks beginning at 7 pm and projections at 7:30. RSVP here: http://www.savedarfur.org/page/event/detail/other/4vxh3.

Tags: Darfur/Darfur, Events, Jerry Fowler, Leslie Thomas, multimedia, music, New York City, photographs, Ron Haviv, Scott Gration, UNGA, Video
Posted in Events, United Nations | No Comments »

Colonel Qaddafi and Sudan: What he won’t say at UNGA

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Muammar Qaddafi

Colonel Muammar Qaddafi will trek to New York City this week to participate in the opening of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) – his first appearance at UNGA in his forty year rule of Libya. Columnists have been speculating for weeks, especially after the return of the Lockerbie bomber, on what the ever-enigmatic Qaddafi will say during his address and whose hands he will (be allowed to) shake. Despite causing a controversy almost every time he speaks about African or Middle East politics, his about-face in 2003 on weapons of mass destruction restored his good graces in Washington and the allure of Libyan oil contracts assures his amenability to most European leaders.

Libya’s involvement in Sudanese affairs, and the Darfur crisis particularly, rarely make much news in the American press. There is a possibility of course that Qaddafi will say something truly outrageous about Sudan during his UN address that will make headlines. Speaking on the same day as President Obama and Iranian President Ahmadinejad, the threshold though for significant news coverage will be high. Then again, claiming as he did last month that Israel is behind all of Africa’s conflicts – including Darfur – may grab him some serious ink.

While many see such a ludicrous statement as Qaddafi just being his regular abhorrent anti-Semite self, other previous comments by the Libyan leader on Darfur begin to reveal a much more sinister role for the Libyan leader. Two years ago, for instance, speaking at the opening of a short-lived round of negotiations in Tripoli between the Sudanese government and the Darfuri rebels, Qaddafi said:

“You might laugh if I say that the main reason of this issue [Darfur] is a camel…Africa has thousands of issues – they are about water, about grass – and Africa is divided into 50 countries, and the tribes are divided amongst so many countries, although they belong to each other. The problem we are having now is that we politicize such problems between tribes.”

His seemingly innocent remarks actually affirm President Omar al-Bashir’s standard excuse that the Darfur crisis is merely a tribal conflict that escalated because of foreign intervention. Perhaps we should expect this message-consistency from two authoritarian leaders (and neighbors) who collectively have tightly held their grips on power for sixty years as of this summer. But there is more that Qaddafi hides from these remarks and his other comments on Darfur and the politics of Sudan.