Advocacy - What You Can Do

Currently 400,000 people have been brutally murdered in Sudan and over 2.5 million have been displaced , all of whom live in poverty, despair and danger.  We need to keep the pressure on our elected official and the international community to bring peace to the people of Darfur. Over the past 5 years this genocide rages on.  It is important that we do not give up.  Each of us can make a difference – it is important that we speak up in support of the people of Darfur and ensure the end of genocide.

• Demand that China, as host of the 2008 Olympics, stop supplying economic, military and political support to the brutal Sudanese regime that is systematically murdering its own people in Darfur.
• Call on your member of Congress and the international community to demand the immediate deployment of the UN Peacekeeping Force to stop the Genocide.

Action Ideas:

There are actions you can take in New Jersey.  Some ideas include:

• Join the NJ Coalition Responds to the Crisis in Darfur (Contact us online or send an email to info@njdarfurcoalition.org)
• View the list of Action Ideas for community and local groups.
• Write Letters to your elected officials and world leaders. Urge them to act now in support of current legislation for ending the violence in Darfur.

Current legislation

As of May 20, 2008

Darfur peacekeeping in FY08 Supplemental Funding Bill: The Fiscal Year 2008 emergency supplemental spending bill includes financial commitments to humanitarian relief, peacekeeping, and development efforts throughout Sudan. However, even with the $334 million additional emergency spending contained in the bill, current funds are insufficient to meet the dire needs on the ground. Violence in the past few months has reached proportions not seen since the beginning of the genocide. Attacks by Sudanese government forces and their proxy Janjaweed militias have driven thousands more from their homes, while the fledgling UN African Union peacekeeping force struggles to make a difference. The World Food Program just announced that they will have to cut rations in half since they are unable to deliver food aid safely to the millions in need and since worldwide food prices have skyrocketed.

Take Action: Urge your representative to support stronger appropriations in the emergency supplemental bill and to include much-needed additional funding for humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and diplomatic efforts. The upcoming emergency supplemental bill is the only opportunity for Congress to provide critical financial assistance to the Darfuri people this year.

Click here for a sample letter.

Petitions to Deploy UNAMID Peacekeepers to Darfur and Fund Helicopters

As many as 400,000 people have been killed in Darfur. Another 2.5 million have been driven from their homes and into danger. The threat of rape, torture, murder and malnutrition pursue the women and children of Darfur wherever they flee. World leaders must unite now to end the genocide and establish a lasting peace in Darfur.  Although some action has been taken at the policy level, its implementation is still in peril. Five months after the UN Security Council authorization of UNAMID, a 26,000 member peacekeeping force to protect the people of Darfur has barely begun to deploy, leaving the people without security or protection. While Sudan's obstruction has been the primary obstacle to UNAMID's rapid and effective deployment, the nations of this world also share direct responsibility for this failure. No nation has stepped forward to provide any of the 24 helicopters that everyone agrees are essential for UNAMID to be successful.  To ensure the end of genocide in Darfur we must call on our government and world leaders to push for the fastest possible deployment of the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force; and pressure contributing nations to fully and immediately meet their pledges of troops, funding, equipment, and logistical support.

Action:  Sign the Help Stop the Genocide Petition add your name to an urgent petition asking President Bush and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to take immediate steps to deploy UN peacekeepers and stop the killing in Darfur.Action:Fill out the form to add your name to an urgent petition asking President Bush to lead an effort to find these helicopters for the UNAMID force.

Stop China's sale of arms to Sudan.

Human Rights First is launching an international campaign to stop China’s sales of arms to Sudan.  China claims that its arms sales to Sudan are insignificant, but a report being released today by Human Rights First argues that since 2004, China has supplied Sudan with some 90% of its small arms and munitions — the types of weapons and bullets that are used to kill, maim, and leave people homeless in Darfur.  More than five years of conflict in Darfur has left as many as 400,000 people dead and more than 2.5 million people homeless, with new attacks on villages in West Darfur recently. China has significant leverage with the government to Sudan that it could use to help end the conflict. But so long as China continues to ship weapons to Sudan, it sends a message of indifference to Sudan's leaders. 

Action: Sign the Crimes Against Humanity petition

Read Human Rights First report  Investing in Tragedy: China's Money, Arms and Politics in Sudan