On anniversary of genocide convention, US approaches moment of truth
AFRICA ACTION
Contact: Ann-Louise Colgan (202) 546-7961
Next month’s Presidency of UN Security Council Requires U.S. Action on
Darfur;
U.S. Must Lead with New UN Resolution Authorizing International Intervention to Protect People in Darfur
Jan 12, 2006 (WASHINGTON, DC) — On the 55th anniversary of
the entry into force of the International Convention for the Prevention
and Punishment of Genocide, Africa Action today deplored the ongoing
genocide in Darfur, Sudan and emphasized the need for U.S. action to
address this crisis during its tenure as President of the United Nations
(UN) Security Council next month. The U.S. remains the only government
to have publicly acknowledged that genocide is taking place in Darfur,
and pressure is mounting for a new U.S. resolution at the Security
Council next month to respond to the deteriorating security situation in
Darfur.
Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at
Africa Action, said today, “Next month is the moment of truth for the
U.S. on Darfur. In the face of the first genocide of the 21st century,
the U.S. must not hesitate to use the opportunity of its presidency of
the Security Council in February to initiate new action to address the
crisis in Darfur. The U.S. has called the crisis in Darfur “genocide”,
and must now have the courage of its convictions to bring this matter to
the international community for immediate action, with a priority on
civilian protection in Darfur.”
As the death toll in Darfur continues to mount, Africa Action today
underscored its call for a new U.S.-led resolution on Darfur, which
would (1) “re-hat” the existing African Union operation in Darfur as a
UN mission with a robust mandate to protect civilians and humanitarian
operations, and (2) authorize a UN peacekeeping force to be deployed to
the region as soon as possible.
Marie Clarke Brill, Director of Public Education & Mobilization at
Africa Action, said today, “On this anniversary of the Genocide
Convention, we are reminded of our moral obligation to take urgent
action to stop the genocide in Darfur. Across the country, growing
numbers of Darfur-related events and actions show the increasing concern
of U.S. citizens at the failure of the Bush Administration to act as an
international leader to stop the genocide in Darfur.”
This month, thousands of communications are being sent from around the
U.S. to the White House and the State Department, urging a new U.S.
resolution at the UN next month to provide protection to the people of
Darfur. A National Call-In Day on February 1st and a major mobilization
on February 2nd will emphasize that millions of Americans await U.S.
leadership on Darfur at the UN Security Council next month.
Africa Action has recently updated its “Talking Points on How to Stop
Genocide in Darfur”, and the latest version of this document is now
available at: http://www.africaaction.org/newsroom/docs/TPs0601.pdf. For
further analysis on the crisis in Darfur and the international response,
see http://www.africaaction.org/darfur.