Category: Statements

Darfur Women Action Group expresses optimism about ICC and outrage against the continuation of genocide in Darfur.

On this day of July 17th, we are proud to commemorate the creation of the International Criminal Court. As the highest international form of accountability it works on the advancement of the global criminal justice, by prosecuting the worlds worst crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In spite of being a newer court, the ICC has successfully been able to investigate crimes, bring charges against suspects, conduct trails and has convicted some of those responsible of committing heinous offenses against innocent civilians. To date, several arrest warrants have been issued for many more criminal, including the arrest warrants against al-Bashir of Sudan. Al-Bashir regrettably remains at large and continues to escape punishment. However, we have greater faith in justice and believe that al-Bashir will certainly one day be taken to the Hague to face trial.

‪ It is worth noting that the ICC, in spite of the persisting challenges, continues to stand firm in protecting the rights of those who have been victimized. The crimes that the ICC has established to address horrific actions committed against the innocent are crimes of a global magnitude. These crimes are not only affecting the targeted communities but they affect our entire global peace and security. Therefore it is quite imperative that on this day, the global communities rally themselves at all levels, including individually and at institutional level, to stand up for justice and provide the material and the moral support needed for the ICC to step up their actions in fighting human rights violations.

‪ On this day we at Darfur Women Action Group stands in solidarity with those who have been victimized by the crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes of aggression, and crimes against humanity. We do this to draw attention to cases currently under the ICC jurisdiction, including the case of Darfur, Sudan where genocide has been going on for eleven years, and continues without any signs of stopping.

‪ President al-Bashir’s actions in Darfur have affected over 4 million men, women and children. His actions have forced over 3 million people to live in camps for years, and they are continuing to be terrorized and are fearful return home. The UN has estimated over 300,000 have been killed since 2006. Today, the number of deaths are far greater than what has been documented due to the restrictions and insecurity imposed by al-Bashir, his government, and the Janjaweed Rapid Support Forces operating directly under his command. Rape has been used as a weapon of war, and countless women and girls have been raped and forced to suffer in silence.

‪ As you now know, Omer al -Bashir stands accused of the most serious international crimes which he has committed in Darfur. According to the ICC, al-Bashir has been charged with 5 counts of crimes against humanity, 2 counts of war crimes, and 5 counts of genocide. However, al-Bashir remains an internationally known fugitive if justice and continues to use every single means in his disposal to evade the international justice by traveling to countries who have made the decision not to cooperate. He has repeatedly visited countries such as Chad, Ethiopia and Qatar. These countries have been enablers to al-Bashir’s crimes and in cooperating with him they are promoting of immunity by falsely assuming that al-Bashir may be able to escape justice.

‪ We call on all who fight for justice in Africa to remind the African leaders that it is imperative that they stand firm for justice at home and internationally by placing the victims first.

‪ Today, we are optimistic more than ever before. It is obvious that the world has changed and the numbers of constituencies fighting against impunity are rapidly growing. Evidence shows that the international leniency for al-Bashir has been narrowing everyday. He is no longer allowed to go to Kenya and Uganda, countries who border Sudan. Furthermore, al-Bashir has lost the legitimacy as a representative of Sudan in most of the important international forums such as the UN General Assembly meetings and in the up-coming US African leaders summit hosted by President Obama.

‪ For these reasons, we ask our readers and DWAG’s supporters to join in celebrating the gains made by the ICC in the past few years and to stand together to fight for more progress. Join us in demanding that the world leaders, including United States, African Union, member states of the ICC and the UNSC, must fulfill their responsibility toward the ICC, the pursuit of justice for the victims, and to ensure that accountability for perpetrators and the accomplices who are aiding the criminal al-Bashir by allowing him to defy ICC warrants.

Thank you!

‪Niemat Ahmadi, and the entire DWAG team

Please join our social media action to amplify our voices by following the link. www.darfurwomenaction.org and also use #justicematters

Pray for Darfur – An Appeal from the Darfur Women Action Group to Help Save Lives in Darfur

 

 

 

 

Dear Faith Leaders:

The Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) sincerely appreciates your commitment to human rights and social justice. We are appealing to you for your help. As people of faith, your community has pioneers who speak for justice and peace and for those whose lives are at risk, and in the past, you all have spoken up for Darfur. Sadly, the situation in Darfur is worsening each day, and it has now been eleven years since the genocide began. Despite the mobilization around this cause over the years, the killing of men, women and children continues. The Janjaweed (the armed militia being supported by the Republic of Sudan that is responsible for the violence) is still fully operational, and well-equipped, and they continue to terrorize our people with impunity.

Why your prayers and support are so needed

The genocide that began in Darfur eleven years ago continues today via attacks by Sudanese government sponsored forces. Over 4 million people have been affected by the crises, 3 million of whom have been displaced from their homes. 2.7 million Darfuris remain in camps within Darfur under dangerous conditions. As of today, these camps lack any humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping missions have failed to protect the vulnerable. Nearly 1 million Darfuris are refugees in neighboring countries, 350,000 in Chad alone. The world may think that the crisis has ended because it is not being reported in the news, but the truth is that over 460,000 Darfuris were displaced in 2013 – and over 300,000 have been displaced in the first quarter of 2014.

Some more horrific facts include:

• Over 80% of the population in refugee camps are women and children, and roughly 60% of the children are of school age and have no access to education;

 

• Rape has been used as a weapon of war, and women and girls remain the main targets;

 

• Omar al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, is accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, but he continues to commit crimes against Darfuris and Sudanese in other regions. He has isolated Darfur from journalists and international visitors, thereby preventing media coverage of Darfur which helps to diminish the gravity of the situation.

We need you, your prayers, your compassion, and your support!

What we do

The Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) strives to mobilize, educate, engage, and empower genocide survivors, activists from the affected communities, and their supporters from the American public to work collectively to alleviate the prolonged suffering in Darfur. DWAG is a women-led anti-atrocity nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, founded in 2009 by a Darfuri genocide survivor and supported by dedicated women, men and young adults. We encourage our supporters to speak out, provide assistance to those in need, and to press the US government and the international community to act. We must hold these entities accountable and remind them that in the face of genocide, they simply cannot look away.

What you can do to help

• Donate: DWAG has the benefit of being led by a Darfuri genocide survivor with strong connections in the region. As such, we can ensure that any money you donate goes DIRECTLY to those who need it the most. Make your tax-deductible donation today! (Please make checks payable to Darfur Women Action Group).

 

• Volunteer: Join our DWAG’s volunteer team and volunteer your time to help advance DAWG’s mission. Go to our website and sign up to receive our email updates about the situation in Darfur and ways you can get involved in DWAG’s initiatives: www.darfurwomenaction.org.

 

• Contact your government representatives: Ask them to be our voice and influence US policy in favor of Darfuri civilians, safety and justice in Sudan, and holding al-Bashir accountable for genocide.

 

• Hold a Darfur event: Invite our powerful survivors to speak to your faith community and give your members first-hand information about Darfur. You can also host monthly prayer gatherings for the victims of the genocide.

 

• Support youth education: Help us provide education to children in the internally displaced camps and the college students who are constantly under attack by the government.

 

• Skills training: Help us protect women and teach them skills to provide for themselves and for their families.

 

• Encouragement: Help us empower survivors to stand up and to speak for themselves as they train others on how to do so.

 

 

Contact Us At: Darfur Women Action Group | 419 7th St NW, Suite 200, Washington DC 20004 | info@darfurwomenaction.org | www.darfurwomenaction.org | Phone: 804-439-2022 | Fax: 203-667-3719

We are more than willing to work with you and your faith community to develop additional ways to become involved in our fight to end genocide. Please do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.

We thank you again for your time.

On behalf of the DWAG team,