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THANK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR
TAKE ACTION NOW! Please thank your Members of Congress today for their leadership to enact the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (H.R. 3127), which provides an important framework for peace in the region. Please also thank those Members who ensured recent enactment of additional funding for peacekeeping operations in Darfur. Click here for a complete list of Members who deserve special recognition.
Click here to thank them now!
WHY THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT: The situation in Darfur, Sudan is becoming more violent every day. Despite the signing of a Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, attacks on villages are increasing, and people are once again fleeing their homes. The African Union (AMIS) peacekeeping force’s mandate was extended to December 31, 2006. However, there is still no international agreement on the transformation of AMIS into a robust United Nations peacekeeping mission. Twelve humanitarian aid workers have been killed since June. CRS staff in West Darfur are increasingly unable to reach people in need due to fighting.
Thanks to your continued advocacy efforts, Congress recently passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (DPAA). Among other important provisions, the DPAA presses the government of Sudan to disarm the warring factions, cease all attacks against innocent civilians, provide unimpeded humanitarian access and bring to justice those perpetrating crimes against humanity. At the same time, Congress recently passed a Defense Appropriations bill that includes an additional $20 million for the African Union peacekeeping operations in Darfur.
It is important that we thank those Members of Congress in particular who took a leadership role in ensuring enactment of the DPAA as well as secured additional funding for peacekeeping operations in Darfur. We hope to encourage their involvement and commitment to see an end to the violence and a return to peace and stability for the people of Darfur.
WHY WE SHOULD GET INVOLVED NOW: Our Church’s social teaching calls on us to protect life and uphold the dignity of all human persons. We are therefore called to protect the lives of the people of Darfur who are suffering tremendously due to this conflict. As Bishop Wenski, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Policy, reiterated recently: “We renew our call to the Administration to redouble its efforts to end the intolerable moral and humanitarian crisis in Darfur through sustained, high-level engagement that will ensure the compliance of the Sudanese government with its obligations under international law.”
TAKE ACTION NOW! Thank your Members of Congress today for their leadership to enact the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (H.R. 3127) and thank those Members who ensured recent enactment of additional funding for peacekeeping operations in Darfur. Click here for a complete list of Members who deserve special recognition. Click here to thank them now!
OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO:
For further information contact:
Tina Rodousakis, Legislative Network Specialist, 1-800-235-2772 x 7462; Trodousa@crs.org
Theodore Rectenwald, Policy Advisor for African Affairs, USCCB, 202-541-3149, TRectenwald@usccb.org
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