SPECIAL PARTNER FEATURE:
Amnesty International Canada's Secretary General
blogging from mission to Chad
Amnesty International Canada's Secretary General
blogging from mission to Chad
An Amnesty research team recently visited Chad for the third time since 2006 to talk to people about the growing numbers of refugees streaming across the border from Darfur. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, who participated in the first two research missions in November 2006 and May 2008, was back in Chad and shared developments and insights over the duration of the mission in a blog.
Read Alex Neve's opening entry and link to the other entries in the Executive Director's Corner.
Read Alex Neve's opening entry and link to the other entries in the Executive Director's Corner.
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16 AID ORGANIZATIONS EXPELLED FROM DARFUR IN RESPONSE TO THE
ICC INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT OMAR EL-BASHIR
ICC INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT OMAR EL-BASHIR
A defiant Omar El-Bashir (right) threatens further repercussions for his indictment by the International Criminal Court (Reuters)
On March 4th, the International Criminal Court (ICC)
announced its decision to indict Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir
on five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for atrocities committed in Darfur, Sudan, since 2002. There will be no "quick way" to arrest Bashir and bring him to trial.
In response, the Sudanese government made good on its threats for retaliation against an indictment and expelled 16 humanitarian organizations from Darfur. Together, the 16 agencies provided more than 50-70% of all essential relief to Darfuri civilians, and up to 40% of aid workers in Darfur have been affected by the move. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, warned "that the effects could shake the region," and launched an "urgent appeal" to Sudan to reverse its decision.
Canada must continue to condemn the expulsion of aid agencies from Darfur, and push the Sudanese Government to comply with its international obligations to protect civilians within Sudan. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT THE ICC INDICTMENT to the Prime Minister and opposition party leaders.
Send your message now
Read the full Executive Summary
Read the latest humanitarian updates from the United Nations
In response, the Sudanese government made good on its threats for retaliation against an indictment and expelled 16 humanitarian organizations from Darfur. Together, the 16 agencies provided more than 50-70% of all essential relief to Darfuri civilians, and up to 40% of aid workers in Darfur have been affected by the move. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, warned "that the effects could shake the region," and launched an "urgent appeal" to Sudan to reverse its decision.
Canada must continue to condemn the expulsion of aid agencies from Darfur, and push the Sudanese Government to comply with its international obligations to protect civilians within Sudan. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT THE ICC INDICTMENT to the Prime Minister and opposition party leaders.
Send your message now
Read the full Executive Summary
Read the latest humanitarian updates from the United Nations
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THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Part of a new web feature: The Executive Director's Corner
Part of a new web feature: The Executive Director's Corner
The 2009 Executive Director's Corner is a new Save Darfur Canada web feature, providing one-stop commentary and updates on issues affecting Canadian policy in Sudan. Headings include: the Executive Commentary, Canada & Sudan and Canadian Foreign Policy. Link to the full ED's Corner here.
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Prime Minister Harper's January 26th Throne Speech, setting the government's agenda for the remaining parliamentary session, made no mention of foreign affairs priorities or of ongoing Canadian commitments in Sudan.
In the meantime, in Darfur, violence continues to destroy lives. Most recently, in the South Darfur town of Muhajiriya, 30 people died and 30,000 were displaced in fighting between the Government of Sudan and rebel forces.
Canada must not turn away from Darfur and Sudan at this critical time. TAKE ACTION NOW: edit and send a message to Prime Minister Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Cannon to ensure that Darfur remains on Canada's foreign affairs agenda.
In the meantime, in Darfur, violence continues to destroy lives. Most recently, in the South Darfur town of Muhajiriya, 30 people died and 30,000 were displaced in fighting between the Government of Sudan and rebel forces.
Canada must not turn away from Darfur and Sudan at this critical time. TAKE ACTION NOW: edit and send a message to Prime Minister Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Cannon to ensure that Darfur remains on Canada's foreign affairs agenda.
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Highschool students can make a difference! Compete with schools across the country to raise awareness and funds for Darfur! Fundraising will be tracked on the Darfur Challenge website, and the top fundraisers will receive great prizes. For more information, visit the campaign website at www.DarfurChallenge.org.
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SAVE DARFUR CANADA'S NATIONAL POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
People all across the country are signing postcards to voice their concern about the crisis in Darfur. Our Government can make a difference, but decision-makers need to know that Canadians care. You can now print postcards on regular paper on a home/office printer or at a copy shop. Find out more here.
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Canada should be doing more to support the United Nations / African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Find out what three things Canada can do. Then, take a few minutes to send a message to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Click here to learn more and to take action.
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A recent international report demonstrates that the Czech Republic, India, Italy, Romania and Ukraine have the helicopters Darfur's UNAMID peacekeepers desperately need. In July 2007, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping deployment, but the international community has since failed to provide essential equipment and support for the mission, including 18 helicopters. Canada must work with potential donor countries to get UNAMID the air support it needs to succeed.
Download the report here. See Save Darfur Canada's press release here.
Read the July 30th op-ed by Salim Salim, the African Union's former chief mediator in Darfur: "Dying in Darfur: Peacekeeping on the Cheap" in the International Herald Tribune.
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Action Alert: Mass arrests and public beatings have taken place in and around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum following an attack by Darfur rebels on May 10th. The rebel-initiated assault and government retaliation both raise serious concerns for the prospects for peace in Darfur. Furthermore, human rights and Darfuri groups have received reports of the use of torture and summary public executions against unarmed civilians in the capital, and reports that certain Darfuri ethnic groups have been targeted. On August 18th, Amnesty International reported that "the Sudanese government [is still] holding hundreds of people – including women and a nine-year-old – without charge or access to lawyers as they prepare to try another 109 in sham courts." Click here to read more about the recent violence and to see clear instructions of how you can take action.
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CAMPAIGNS FROM OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:
STAND Canada has developed an AMAZING ADVOCACY TOOL for you to tell decision-makers that you want Canada to act in Darfur. Call 1-800-GENOCID(e) to get connected to the offices of key Canadian MPs, and tell them Darfur must be a Canadian foreign policy priority. The service provides optional speaking points to guide participants during calls. Find out more here.
Find STAND Canada's 1-800-GENOCID(e) speaking points here.
STAND Canada website: www.StandCanada.org
Find STAND Canada's 1-800-GENOCID(e) speaking points here.
STAND Canada website: www.StandCanada.org
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Instant Karma is Amnesty International's new campaign using the power of John Lennon's music and the voices of millions of concerned people around the world to stop the horrific human rights abuses taking place in Darfur, Sudan. For more information, click here.
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