Category: Blog

Darfur Women Action Group, in partnership with Genocide Watch and The
Center for the Study of Gender and Conflict at the George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR),
cordially invites you to attend our
4th Annual National Symposium on Women & Genocide
in the 21st Century: The Case of Darfur
Building Strategies for Sustainable Change in Sudan
Art and Music for women empowerment with Mark Kostabi and the great Italina singer Tony Esposito
October 17th-18th, 2015

For the past six years, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) has been working with its allies to bring awareness to the magnitude of the genocide in Darfur and particularly its impact on women.DWAG educates the public about these issues, empowering survivors to bring their voices to regional and international forums.

On Saturday, October 17th to Sunday, October 18th, we, along with hundreds of anti-genocide activists, women’s rights advocates, acadamics ,artists, celebrities, survivors, experts, and concerned leaders will come together to address genocide, its impact on women, and build strategies for sustainable change in Darfur.

WHO:

Activists, students, and experts on genocide and women’s issues from around the world.

Our speakers include:

– Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first ever chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

– Dr. Marja Lehto: Senior Advisor, The Legal Service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

– Mr. Carl Wilkens: Founder, World Outside My Shoes

– Ambassador Stephen Rapp: Former Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice

– Ms. Shamila Batohi: Senior Legal Advisor to the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court

– Zainab Hawa Bangura: UN Under Secretary General, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict (Video Message)

– Ms. Jacqueline Wilson: Senior Program Officer, Academy of International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding ,USIP

– Ms. Khady Lusby: Founder, OPEN International

– Ms. Sally Smith: Managing Director, Nexus-Fund

– Dr. Irvin-Erickson: Director, Genocide Prevention Program , School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

– Professor : Brian Kritz: Adjunct Lecturer and Research Fellow, Conflict Resolution Program ,Georgetown University

– Ms. Hawa Mohamed: Human Rights Activist, Darfur Genocide Survivor

– Ms. Emira Woods: Global Client Principal for Social Impact Programs, ThoughtWorks

– Mr. Tanut Amoon: Sudanese Expert, Nubia Call

– Ms. Niemat Ahmadi: Founder, Darfur Women Action Group

– Professor Leslie Dwyer: Director, Center for Gender and Conflict Studies, School for Conflict Analysis Resolution at George Mason University

– Professor Greg Stanton: President, Genocide Watch

– Claudine Kuradusenge: PhD Candidate; School for Conflict Analysis Resolution at George Mason University

– Ms. Allyson Neville-Morgan, Legislative Associate for the Prevention of Vio

lent Conflict, Friends Committee on National Legislation
– Ms. Elizabeth Blackney: Media and Communication Director, Panzi Foundation

WHAT:

By addressing genocide and its impact on women, we will define challenges and develop strategies for ending violence against women and the use of rape as a weapon of war. Our goal is to empower activists and affected communities, set strategies for meaningful inclusion and justice for victims, and influence effective policy reforms that will bring a sustainable end to genocide in the 21st century.

Artist and Musicain Mark Kostabi and Tony Esposito the great Itlian Singer will be joining DWAG In spport of women empowerment , in an evening concert on Saturday

WHEN:

Saturday, October 17th – Speakers and Panel Discussions from 9AM – 9PM

Sunday, October 18th – Strategy Session with Sudanese Diaspora and activists from 9AM – 4PM

WHERE:

Founders Hall at George Mason University, Arlington Campus

3351 Fairfax Dr.

Arlington, VA 22201

WHY:

We are building a global alliance to end genocide and work towards women’s empowerment in Darfur, Sudan at large, and worldwide. Together, we have the power to end genocide for the people of Sudan!

REGISTRATION FEES

Students: $20
Non-Students: $60

[A light lunch will be served on Saturday]

*Scholarships and group discounts are available upon request, please contact info@darfurwomenaction.org. For more information, click here.

We are building a global alliance to end genocide and work towards women’s empowerment in Darfur, Sudan at large, and worldwide. Together, we have the power to end genocide for the people of Sudan!

Click here to register today!

On behalf of Darfur Women Action Group, Genocide Watch, The Center for the Study of Gender and Conflict at the George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR), the Sudanese Diaspora, and the resilient women of Darfur, we hope you will join us in supporting our mission to mobilize, educate, engage and empower women and end genocide. For a full description of the symposium, including travel and lodging, please visit our event page.

Equip yourself with the tools to make a difference in your community
as well as in the lives of your brothers and sisters in Darfur!

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours in Peace & Sisterhood,

Niemat Ahmadi
Founder and President of Darfur Women Action Group
Dr. Gregory Stanton
President of Genocide Watch
Dr. Leslie Dwyer
Director of The Center for the Study of Gender and Conflict, at the George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR)

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn!
Visit us at darfurwomenaction.org
Contact us at info@darfurwomenaction.org

As the genocide in Darfur began to make international headlines, subsequent intervention by the international community in the form of a joint UN-AU peacekeeping force (UNAMID) forced the regime in Khartoum to scale down the level of violence it was inflicting on its black non-Arab minority. Yet Omar al-Bashir has utilized a host of means to continue his campaign of repression, notably the criminal justice system as well as civil society.

This was illustrated by the arrest of two Darfuri students on August 27th in the Khartoum Bahri Criminal Court. According to Radio Dabanga, the pupils had been protesting against the trial of Mohamed Bukhari, who is accused by the government of murdering a senior leader of the student wing of the ruling Islamist National Congress Party (NCP). The secretary of the group was killed following clashes between its supporters and Darfuri students at Sharg El Nil College on April 29. Around 150 NCP students, with the backing of school guards, allegedly attacked members of the Darfur Students Association during a meeting on campus.

Darfuri students have long been subject to discrimination, ranging from arbitrary detention to a massive eviction from Khartoum dormitories last year. The Sudanese Committee against Racial Discrimination asserted that such policies are part of the ‘’systematic exclusion targeting of certain ethnic groups and the implementation of ethnic cleansing policies’’. Furthermore, Darfuri students also face persecution by the NCP, which has a history of inciting violence against pupils from Sudan’s remote region. At a press conference it was organizing, an NCP student group declared to its supporters that Darfuri students should be prohibited from entering universities or organizing themselves politically, and that those who fail to comply should ‘’be burnt in his or her room’’.

While the use of the legal system by an authoritarian government to repress its own people is nothing new, Khartoum’s use of civil society organizations to carry out its agenda demonstrates how comprehensive its campaign of ethnic repression has become. In spite of this, Darfuri students continue to exhibit an unyielding propensity to organize themselves in defense of dignity and justice. Such resilience is perhaps the reason why the regime in Khartoum finds it imperative to go after students in the first place.

The 70th Session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to open September 15th in New York, represents the fruits of a long and arduous journey world powers have made to advance peace and limit the outbreak of war. Yet the meeting of world leaders has the potential to cause a serious headache for American policymakers. Depending on the guest list, American officials may be forced to grant a visa to one of the most infamous fugitives in the world, a man accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of orchestrating a host of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In most cases such a fugitive would be on Interpol’s list of wanted criminals and wouldn’t dare apply for a visa to the United States. However because he is a head of state, Omar al-Bashir is only subject to arrest in countries that are parties to the Rome Statute (and even then his detention is not a sure bet, as illustrated by the government of South Africa’s shameless actions earlier this summer). While the U.S. isn’t part of the ICC, it has nevertheless been vocal about Sudan’s abysmal human rights record. Yet because of a headquarters agreement between the UN and the U.S., the American government must issue travel visas to persons who intend to travel strictly for UN business, regardless of any objections the State Department may have.

Should Omar al-Bashir seek to attend the opening ceremony of the General Assembly, the Obama administration would be put in an uncomfortable position. Under international law, it would be obligated to comply with al-Bashir’s visa request, yet hosting an accused war criminal would severely undermine the West’s efforts to bring the fugitive to justice, and would only cement al-Bashir’s legitimacy back home.

While al-Bashir may very well decide to obtain a visa, he would still need to deal with a chorus of opposition once he arrives. The embattled dictator has few allies on the international stage willing to publicly back him on key issues, ranging from the territorial disputes with South Sudan to its campaign in Darfur. Moreover, given the widespread international opprobrium his visit to South Africa’s African Union (AU) summit spurred, a trip to a world city like New York would incite a momentous backlash from civil society organizations of all stripes. While statesmen-like, his presence at the UN would invite more bad press than the autocrat would want.

It is unlikely that the dictator will make the trip. In 2013, al-Bashir threatened to attend the General Assembly repeatedly only to scuttle his travel plans. Nevertheless, the U.S. must revise its headquarters agreement with the UN and takes step to get behind the ICC if it genuinely seeks to advance a comprehensive human rights agenda.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators of genocide in Darfur must not be overlooked.

In commemoration of International Criminal Justice Day, Darfur Women Action Group would like to express its gratitude and wholehearted support to the International Criminal Court and highlight the failure of world leaders to fulfill their commitment to justice for the genocide currently being committed against the people of Darfur under the watch of the international community.

The Darfur genocide began 12 years ago and the case of Darfur was referred to the ICC by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2005. Despite countless challenges, the ICC successfully investigated the crimes and brought charges against four Sudanese officials, including Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. Regrettably, to this date, the killings, mass rapes, displacements and all kinds of human rights abuses continue against the innocent men, women and children of Darfur while the perpetrators remain in power. Impunity for these heinous crimes is not only devastating to the affected communities but it is extremely detrimental to our world’s peace and security because it sends the message that perpetrators can get away with mass murder.

It’s quite dismaying that many countries and governments, including members of the ICC, have chosen not to act in the face of genocide, violating their oath of “never again” along with their legal obligation. Most recently, South Africa allowed President al-Bashir to leave the country despite a court order requiring him to stay. It’s worth noting that the ICC has fulfilled its duty but due to lack of support from UNSC members and the shameful failure of the States Parties to the Rome Statue to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, none of the indicted Sudanese officials have been brought to justice and the genocide rages on.

Since the international community has chosen to ignore the longest genocide in history, the ICC, as the court of last resort, is the only hope for the people of Darfur, who have been suffering at the hands of their own government for far too long. On this important day, it is crucial that we support the ICC and make our voices louder to remind our leaders that they must stand with the victims, not the criminals.

We recognize the fact that the United Sates is not a signatory to the ICC, however the case of Darfur was referred to the ICC by UNSC members under SC/RES 1593. The United States is a leading member of the UNSC and it is therefore obligated to support the UNSC referral and enable the ICC to proceed in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The United States has historically contributed to the creation of several ad-hoc international tribunals to pursue accountability and try perpetrators of crimes similar to those being committed in Darfur, such as the case of Liberia, Rwanda and the special court for Sierra Leone. Sudan should not be an exception. In this regard, the ICC has provided a unique opportunity for the international community to collaboratively pursue accountability through a permanent institution.

Regrettably, the Obama Administration, despite its rhetoric of bringing peace to Sudan, has not only failed to recognize the importance of accountability, but has chosen to remain silent in the face of the longest genocide in history. This silence is a huge roadblock to peace in Darfur and Sudan at large. President al-Bashir has been emboldened and allowed to continue orchestrating mass murders, rapes, and gross human rights abuses as a part of his deliberate policy to eliminate an entire population because of the impunity he enjoys and the international community’s failure to hold him accountable.

The world has said “never again” so many times and is currently allowing it to happen yet again. Genocide is happening this very moment and the entire world knows about it, yet they do nothing. In fact, they allow Omar al-Bashir to travel freely and participate in regional and international forums, ultimately enabling his genocidal policy.

We are gravely concerned by the inaction of world leaders and lack of cooperation from ICC member states, which are contributing to the prolonged suffering of Darfuri civilians and preventing the ICC from achieving justice. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to call on the United States, ICC’s member states, UNSC members and the International Community to fulfill their legal and moral obligations and demand that they take the following steps to ensure that impunity for the world’s worst crimes – genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity – is not an option.

– ICC states parties must uphold their legal obligation to provide cooperation and support for the ICC to continue its investigation into the ongoing crimes in Darfur.

– We urge the United States government not to invite or welcome Sudanese officials who are members of the current genocidal regime or grant them visas to enter their country.

– We demand that our leaders prioritize justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators and their accomplices who are aiding them in evading justice.

– We call on the ICC to continue investigating the past and current crimes committed in Darfur.

We call on world citizens and those who believe in justice to continue to support our effort and amplify our voices to fight impunity and hold our leaders accountable for ignoring and allowing horrific crimes to continue unabated. Our silence will not only enable the delay of justice but will allow more people to be murdered, raped, and attacked with impunity. We must speak up and continue our fight until the day in which the last criminal is brought to justice.

Join us to commemorate the International Criminal Justice Day on July 17th

Dear DWAG supporters,

Five years ago, on July 12th, 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued the second arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for three counts of genocide, which follows his first arrest warrant issued on March 4, 2009 for two counts of war crimes and five counts crimes against humanity.President al-Bashir remains a fugitive who has been allowed to travel with impunity and in defiance of international justice. World leaders have failed to stand by their words in supporting the ICC to hold the genocidal criminal accountable.

Between July 12th and the days leading up to International Justice Day on July 17th, we need your support to speak up to remind world leaders of their responsibilities and demand that they must support the ICC to achieve justice for the victims of genocide and accountability for the perpetrators of the world’s worse crimes.

What can you do?

– Continue to educate yourself about Bashir’s continued crimes and what needs to be done to stop him – www.bashirwatch.org and www.darfurwomenaction.org are just a few organizational examples who focus on what continues to happen in Darfur

– Add your voice – Help us urge the ICC to continue to investigate crimes and to strategize with a thorough enforcement mechanism to hold parties to the Rome Statute accountable for their actions

– Encourage the United States to support accountability for the world’s worse crimes of genocide, and to urge other UNSC members to support the ICC in its mission to prosecute abusers of human rights

– Help spread the word via social media- change your Twitter and Facebook profile pictures to the image provided in the link below, urge your friends to do the same, and use the hashtags #Respond2Darfur and #JusticeMatters to make your voices heard.

I hope you will join us!

With Gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi, President and Founder of Darfur Women Action Group