Category: Blog

A story of an inseparable bond that brought the Italian community close to Darfur.

In today’s polarized environment, I feel compelled to share this beautiful story.

In 2011, media coverage of the Darfur genocide began to rapidly decline along with support from the international community. As a survivor of the Darfur genocide and with people still suffering on the ground, I felt betrayed.  Although overwhelmed, I worked hard to not get discouraged and to find ways to ensure maintaining attention on Darfur.  At that time, the Darfur Women Action Group was just a logo and a registration certificate, a Board consisting of three members, two volunteer staff members comprised of only me and an intern, who was a junior at American University. We needed and decided to do something to rescue the waning Darfur anti-genocide movement. This movement, aimed at mobilizing citizens against the genocide in Darfur, had begun in the United States and had extended around the globe. We needed to get DWAG to work and our initial goal was to give women survivors a voice. Secondly, we focused on sustaining the engagement of committed individuals. We planned to do both via an annual symposium where the two groups meet annually. To these ends, we decided to do three things: (1) maintain close contact with survivors on the ground and document the atrocities they had experienced, (2) launch a strong advocacy program led by survivors, and (3) organize an annual multi-day symposium on women and genocide in the 21^st century. Our intent was to avoid replication of what was already being done and to focus on addressing the weakness of the existing movement. Then we identified two important gaps: violence against women within the context of genocide and the lack of empowerment of the affected communities.  Our plan was to give women and all survivors a voice by giving them a platform in which to share their stories with committed individuals, activists, policy makers, advocates and students. The immediate goal was for all to be educated, re-energized and reengaged and to continue to fight.  We began approaching the people we knew and who we thought might support our effort. However, the response was less than positive.  We were told that there was Darfur fatigue and organizing a conference was not “sexy” and that it would be very challenging to find support for our entire work, let alone our symposium. Needless to say, it was challenging to remain optimistic.

And then, it happened! I have received a call from an artist in Rome telling me that his group are supporters of Darfur and that they have been supporting a Rome based organization called Italians for Darfur and they looked online and found our organization and wanted to come to DC to organize a concert for us to support our work. I was dumbfounded! People here were telling me that no one cares about Darfur any longer and, out of the blue, came this call from a complete stranger from Rome! That call replenished my hope that what I had heard about Darfur fatigue was not true and that there were still people who cared.  So, we decided to proceed with not even a penny in our organization’s account.   We moved forward and organized our symposium and Antonio (Tony) and his American friend, Mark Kosabi, came and performed along with one of our Sudanese musicians. It was a smashing success!  (Subsequently, Tony produced an album for Darfur with proceeds dedicated to Italians for Darfur. He has suggested that he do the same for DWAG.)  Since then, we have become close friends and strong allies in our cause.

In 2016, I was invited by the Italians for Darfur to speak in Rome, where I testified before the Italian Parliament about the escalation of violence in Darfur. People often asked me how I came to be involved with the Italian community. I have to tell the whole story often and the reaction is that it is fascinating, so I thought I’d share it with a wider audience

The background to this story: In the wake of the Darfur genocide, the Italian people, particularly in Rome, refused to stand idly by. They had organized themselves and joined hands with the Darfuri community in Rome to speak about genocide and had demanded that their government take action. They also organized protests, performed sit-ins in front of Parliament and launched a letter writing campaign. In 2007, Italians for Darfur was founded by a prominent Italian woman activist, Antonella Napoli, who is now its executive director. Since then, Italians for Darfur has become a strong international voice for the people of Darfur. Through their work, Tony Esposito learned about the crisis in Darfur and felt he had do something about it. He decided to use his music and art skills to support Italians for Darfur and has subsequently been organizing concerts in Rome and other cities. In 2010, Tony travelled to Darfur. He visited refugee camps in Chad and in western Darfur where he sponsored an education project run by IFD. Since then he has committed himself to continue to speak and do everything possible to help the people of Darfur, including bringing his best friend, Mark Kostabi, and his brother, Paul Kostabi, on board – and the three have become staunch dedicated supporters of Darfur.

So, back to 2011 when Italians for Darfur partnered with DWAG and introduced Tony and the Kostabis to me. In 2012, Tony and Mark traveled from Rome to DC to perform at the first ever women and genocide symposium. Since then they have become DWAG’s number one supporters.  Mark Kostabi has donated several paintings for DWAG to use for fund raising. In 2015, as Tony was coming to perform and the DWAG President reached out to DC’s Italian community to inform them that an Italian musician friend of DWAG’s was coming to DC, the Italian community, led by Claudio Bazzichelli, immediately decided to join DWAG, not only in support of Tony but also for Darfur. Since then the partnership between DWAG and the Italians in DC has grown stronger and, today, our partnership has demonstrated that people-to-people connections are the most important investment that we need to make. It’s the best example of unity in diversity that today’s world so desperately needs.  I speak Arabic and English, my mother tongue is Fur and I am a naturalized American citizen. I don’t speak Italian and Tony speaks a little English but no Arabic, but our mutual American friend, NY- based Mark Kostabi, helps us communicate perfectly – so much so that I consider them my brothers.  The relationship we have developed means the world to me and the people my organization serves . Although we didn’t meet at a bar, a wedding or a concert, places where people usually meet, it’s the cause that brought us and bound us together.

Again this year in the midst of the international community’s controversial political dynamics  in Sudan, which  has been largely characterized by Europe’s  anti-African migration policy, and the United States’ bold move toward normalization with Sudan (ignoring the fact that the country is led by an indicted genocidal criminal) and while people are still dying in masses in Darfur, our friends from Rome to NY to DC have decided to come together and launch a new initiative – Stars for Darfur, a concert and donated arts auction. They have brought many Italian American organizations to partner with Darfur Women Action Group, to mobilize support for Darfur and to show the world that if our leaders decided to walk away from Darfur, committed individuals like Tony his wife Elinora and the Kostabis and their supporters will never walk away. It’s extremely inspiring, heartwarming and empowering to have people like these in your life.  It takes compassion and passion of only a few individuals to bring continents together.

This is not to say that we haven’t, over the years, received support from many people, but I wanted to explain the timing and the significance of that call from Rome which was the impetus to our decision and ability to continue our work.  We still have not received significant funding, but after that call, small and individual support started pouring in to help us get to where we are today. With Darfur thousands of miles away from Rome and DC, it is rarely, if ever, in the news any more. But the support and commitment of the Italian community represented by Tony and the American people represented by the Kostabis has shown the people of Darfur that they are not alone; that if we can connect with one another as people, regardless of our social, geographic and cultural boundaries, the world will no doubt will be a better place for all. As the situation in Darfur grows grimmer, I am hopeful that if we can reach more people and find connections with them, as we have done with the Italian community, and work with them as allies and reach many others, we will overcome!  I am a believer that if we all believe that humanity transcends social, geographical and cultural boundaries, there will not be a genocide anywhere in the world. We are pleased to welcome Antonio Esposito, his wife Elinora and Mark Kostabi in DC again this Saturday for a benefit concert in support of DWAG.

By Niemat Ahmadi, President and founder

Darfur Women Action group

@niemata @DWAG6

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DarfurWomenActionGroup/

www.darfurwomenaction.org

 

 

WHEN A GENOCIDAIRE BECOMES A CELEBRITY

As April is Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month, every year, human rights advocates and anti-genocide activists from around the globe come together to commemorate previous genocides and renew their commitment to work toward preventing future ones.  With Darfur in mind, they recognize that stopping genocides remains one of humanity’s most pressing and important challenges – and calling attention to these atrocities is an important part of global action. At this time each year, we at Darfur Women Action Group ask, “How can the world be serious about ending these atrocities when Sudan’s genocide, one of the longest and most widespread in modern history with more than 300,000 dead in the first three years and millions displaced, now in its 17^th year, continues to be ignored by the global community?”. Discussing prevention of future genocides while ignoring an existing ongoing one makes genocide prevention a theoretical concept, not a reality.

In the wake of the Sudanese government’s scorched earth campaign to systematically kill and displace the people of Darfur in 2003, the world outcry was loud and forceful.  A sizable United Nations (UN) and African Union force was deployed to stop the violence – and a peace agreement was signed in 2006. The person responsible for these horrific crimes, President Omar al-Bashir, was indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.  It seemed to prove that global action had been effective.

But as we now know, al-Bashir’s determination to wipe out the entire African population of Western Sudan and his greed for power has not waned.   He increased his control over the free media and found allies in powerful nations. He then told the world that he would disband the militia responsible for committing genocidal acts and created a false narrative that Sudan had turned a corner.  The global community believed him and echoed this sentiment.

Subsequently, the United States (US) began a push to normalize relations with Sudan and the European Union (EU) paid the Sudanese government hundreds of millions of euros, relying on a genocidal government to increase border security forces, whereby stopping the flow of African migrants into Europe. In addition, the UN endorsed plans to decrease its peacekeeping operations in Darfur.  With this newfound power, al-Bashir not only restarted his campaign of violence but expanded it to the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.

The violence surged in 2013, and al-Bashir’s second wave of violence displaced another million people in Darfur.  To date, more than three million people live in refugee camps in Sudan and neighboring countries, fearful of returning home. Meanwhile, their land has already been allocated to and is occupied by al-Bashir’s loyal settlers. How is this an end to the genocide?

Al-Bashir’s move to exterminate the entire population of Darfur is as systematic today as it was in 2003.  In 2014 alone, more than 3,000 villages were burned to the ground.  In 2016, the government used chemical weapons against its own people, killing more than 250, mostly women and children, and leaving hundreds suffering from debilitating injuries.  Humanitarian aid has been systematically blocked, and if the UN makes good on its promise to remove all of its forces, there will be nothing left to protect civilians or ensure they have at least some access to food, water, and medicine.  At that point, al-Bashir’s goal of exterminating the African population of western Sudan will be nearly accomplished.

Rape continues to be used as a weapon of war.  Women are raped during attacks, while seeking refuge, and even while just performing daily chores within the premises of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.   These incidents of rape are grossly underreported by humanitarian agencies and UNAMID.  To date, the medical, psychological and social needs of victims are still not being addressed.

In addition, rape victims are threatened for speaking out. After the 2014 rape of 221 women and girls in Tabit, government forces threatened the victims and witnesses of these attacks, ordering them to not provide any information to UNAMID. Women who tried to resist or fight back were regularly cut, stabbed, and/or mutilated with knives to instill fear in them. Moreover, Sudanese laws are reinforcing institutionalized violence against women and allowing perpetrators to walk free.   In April of 2018, a 19-year-old girl, Noura Hussein, was sentenced to death for defending herself against her rapist. She had stabbed him as he attempted to rape her for the second time, and without intending to, she killed him. The international outcry at the unjust and misogynistic legal system in Sudan led to the overturning of her death sentence, but shockingly, she was still sentenced to five years in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $18,700.

How can we honestly say that we want to stop future genocides when we turn a blind eye to what is happening in Sudan?  Al-Bashir, with the two warrants of ten counts for his arrest, travels freely and is welcomed by international dignitaries as if he is the world’s most important celebrity. US Congressional and Administration delegations travel to Khartoum, Sudan to discuss how the two countries can do more business together while its president presides over multiple genocides.  In its most recent report on the global refugee situation, the UN did not even list Sudan as a pressing concern.  Rather than discouraging future genocides, these actions tell brutal autocrats that the world will not stand in the way of their bestial behavior. When accountability for the most heinous crimes is dismissed by our leaders, when criminals are celebrated, and when we choose silence – nothing will stop the current or deter the future atrocities from happening. As he sees his freely granted pass and as he preens in the midst of his new found celebrity status, Omar al-Bashir is now emboldened by securing his special place in the hearts and minds of superpower leaders.

For 30 years, the man has used divide-and-conquer tactics as he divided the people of Sudan across ethnic, religious, political and geographical lines. While his regime was actively exterminating the people of Darfur, the rest of the Sudan populace was just doing business as usual.  Today that tactic has expired as the entire country has awakened in an unprecedented uprising that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets to demand the resignation of al-Bashir, whereby allowing the possibility of peace, freedom and justice to take hold in Sudan.  al-Bashir’s response has been brutal violence. And yet, Sudanese from all walks of life remain united and determined – with hope increasing nearly every day. Regrettably, the international community continues to fail to respond to al-Bashir’s brutality. While the regime is killing protesters, its regional and international allies are secretly meeting, assuring al-Bashir of their backing in a 2020 election. By doing so, they are actively stealing the hope for change from the Sudanese people and allowing criminal al-Bashir to get away with murder.

When people’s power prevailed, al-Bashir has been forced to step down, dismayingly his defense minister has been Installed in to control the military with hope to grant impunity for al-Bashir and other criminals. Subsequently he stepped down as people unanimously rejected his leadership. Again, they nominated the most notorious military commanders,   the twin  head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), forces loyal to Bashir responsible of genocide committed in Darfur As the news of change is welcomed, these developments put Sudan at a dangerously defining moment that needs us to stay vigilant-make it know that impunity for genocide crimes must not be an option.

In 2006, the world woke up with outrage to the campaign of genocide in Darfur.  Politicians, celebrities, scholars, students and ordinary citizens demanded action to great effect.  What we need now is a sustained re-awakening.  The only way to stop future genocide is to make sure that Celebrity Omar al-Bashir does not get away with the one being perpetrated right under our noses.

Niemat Ahmadi, President, Darfur Women Action Group

 

We were alarmed to learn that yet another U.S. Congressional delegation visited Sudan on the weekend of March 16^th, 2019.  If this delegation, whose trip is facilitated by the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI), is looking to build upon least year’s Congressional visits to Sudan sponsored by HDI, they are sending a wrong and dangerous message to President Omar al-Bashir and his government.  The American people deserve an answer.

They should have numerous questions regarding HDI, as it seems that the organization’s primary purpose has become taking politicians to Sudan and working on rebranding the genocidal face of the regime in Khartoum while the Sudanese people themselves reject Mr. al-Bashir.  HDI stopped posting financial information on its website in 2011. We also have questions regarding the funder of the previous trips, Bash Pharma.  The delegations visited a Bash Pharma manufacturing facility, and we would like to understand better the role they are playing.

Last year, two HDI-sponsored delegations visiting Sudan met with political leaders in Khartoum.  During these visits, the delegation was hosted at the house of the First Vice President, at the National Assembly, at the home of the Chargé d’Affaires, and with the National Intelligence and Security Service.  While there, they were undoubtedly told about all the steps the government was taking to end the violence, make reforms, and return the country to prosperity.  The delegation worked with the al-Bashir regime to open up their banking system, remove further sanctions, and be removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.  History is not on the side of this being constructive.

When the world was up in arms about the genocide in Darfur, Mr. al-Bashir promised to reduce his attacks and promised reforms.  He falsely convinced the world that the genocide was over, and used the interim time to gain greater control of the media and the messages the world would hear.  Once most economic restrictions were lifted, however, Mr. al-Bashir returned to violent methods of rule.  The number of displace persons has risen dramatically over the past few years. Mass rapes, theft and murder have not only returned to Darfur, but have spread to other regions.  Three million displaced Sudanese remain under attack and too afraid to return home because of insecurity.  The policies of normalization have only emboldened this regime.

Luckily, the people of Sudan understand what American politicians do not: This violent regime will never change, and the time for new leadership has come.  In December, nationwide protests calling for Mr. al-Bashir to step down erupted, and despite an unconstitutional state of emergency aimed at quelling dissent, they continue to grow.  The government has responded the only way they know how—with violence.  Dozens have been killed, thousands jailed, and reports of beatings and torture are common.  Doctors have been targeted, six hospitals have been attacked, members of the free-press are jailed, and brave human rights defenders and lawyers are arrested regularly.

This is not a regime that will change and any policy that aims to work with it is horribly misguided.  U.S. voters need to understand why yet another congressional delegation is visiting Khartoum and why they are pushing to give Mr. al-Bashir more power.  Voters also need to know why these delegations are not visiting Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan where the people there will tell them a much different story than the ones they are being told in Khartoum.

Press reports regarding the current and past congressional trip to Sudan can be found here:

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67195

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67230

http://www.startribune.com/sudan-secures-300m-loans-from-regional-fund-amid-protests/507265372/

 

Details of the last year’s trips can be found on HDI’s website here:

http://thehdi.org/congressional_delegations/sudan_delegation_july_2018.html

 

Mike Hall

Policy Advisor

Darfur Women Action Group

darfurwomenaction.org

Keep Your Eyes on Darfur

While the world’s attention turned to the government of Sudan’s violent response to the nationwide protests, massacres, brutal rapes and violent attacks on innocent people of Darfur have been going unnoticed. Those who have been displaced 15 years ago in Darfur are still facing systematic attacks and rape of civilians every day.

• On March 14: Three students from Sheikh Yousef Mustafa Koran Institute were victims of armed robbery in South Darfur. After exchanging blows with one robber, Hanafi Ismail was fired at and killed instantly, while the other 2 students were seriously wounded. One of the robbers was a corporal in the Sudan Armed Forces.

• Last week, three young women and girls were repeatedly raped at gunpoint by militiamen in North Darfur while collecting firewood. One girl (14) was also “beaten, whipped, and verbally humiliated”. The Incident was reported to Kutum-area police, but perpetrators have not been pursued nor arrested.

• On March 13: Six displaced persons were massacred in the Ardamata camp in West Darfur while collecting straw. The Darfur Media and Journalists Associations held the government responsible and demanded an investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

• Credible sources from the ground estimate that more than 150 women are currently imprisoned for participating in protests in Sudan. While a portion of these young women were released from Omdurman Women’s Prison in Sudanlast Tuesday, there is a lack of information as to how many remain detained.

• Post declaring a State of Emergency on 22 February, President Bashir has “appointed a new government, installed military and security officers in all state governments…established emergency courts and deployed large numbers of security forces on the streets”. Many of these emergency courts are harshly distributing punishment to the hundreds of protestors being tried.

• On March 9: Nine women were arrested for participating in peaceful anti-government protests and sentenced to one month in prison and 20 lashes, though the latter punishment was appealed and reversed.

The same al-Bashir regime that orchestrated the genocide in Darfur is currently ordering brutality against peaceful protesters in Sudan. Your voices are urgently needed to expose al-Bashir’s crimes in Darfur and across Sudan.  It takes only one action to contribute to ending genocide in Darfur and the unprecedented carnage across Sudan. If you can share this with 5-10 people in your network and ask them to do the same, you will make a difference.

With our collective effort we can make a difference.  We can end it.

Please also check our STAND with Sudan campaign and take one of the actions if you have not done so yet.

Like us on FB, Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you for your support.

Niemat Ahmadi

 

Darfur Women Action Group Observes International Women’s Day

Every day we hear stories of resilience, tragedy and horror, and yet, international institutions continue to betray and ignore the women of Darfur. Your voice can change this.

Dear supporters,

On this International Women’s Day, we would like to bring your attention to the daily suffering of the women of Darfur—and to honor their resilience.  Despite the fact that Darfuri women are still under genocidal attack and continue to be victims and survivors of brutal and systematic mass rape, they continue to persevere and serve as the lifeblood of their communities.  Today, on International Women’s Day, we need to let them know that they are not alone, and that there is hope.

Darfur Women Action Group strives to changes the way the world responds to crimes committed against women in Darfur and we need your help to do so.

Today, we will honor some of these brave women by sharing their story.  On February 5^th, two women, three girls and two boys from the Zamzam camp for displaced Sudanese set out on a 13-kilometer journey to collect straw to make bed mats, hats, baskets and other items essential to daily living.  Being able to complete this task safely is something many of us would take for granted.  But in Darfur, common activities like this are fraught with risk, and is all too common, this one ended in tragedy.

“A sheikh of Zamzam camp for the displaced, near to El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that on Monday, a group of herders attacked two women, three girls, and two boys while they were collecting straw at Um Hashaba area, 12 kilometres west of Zamzam camp.

The attackers beat the boys, took the women and girls at gunpoint, and raped them repeatedly from 4 pm until 10 pm. 

The sheikh said the incident was reported to the police and the victims given medical treatment. 

A patrol under the leadership of the Commissioner of El Fasher went after the culprits on Tuesday, but there are no reports of arrests.” 

We were horrified by the news reports of this incident (https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/women-girls-gang-raped-in-north-darfur-attack).  These women and children will be expected to pick themselves and find a way to continue to persevere in the face of the type of adversity that is unimaginable.  They need to know the world is watching.  They need your support.

What is happening in Darfur?

For more than 15 years, the Sudanese government’s military forces and their allied militia, the Janjaweed, have carried out systematic attacks against the Darfuri people based on their ethnicity. They have bombed villages, abducted civilians, looted private property, and used rape against women and girls as a weapon of war.

Rapes in Darfur are well-planned and deliberately orchestrated attacks to tear apart families, break down leadership structures, and leave long-term social, emotional, and physical scars on entire communities. All of these tactics are used by the Sudanese government and its allied militia to perpetuate genocide.  No research has been conducted to determine the exact number of women raped and the impact of sexual violence on women and girls. Regrettably, not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice.

As a result, more than 3 million Darfuris were forced to leave their villages for internally displacement camps or ones located in Chad.  More than 80% of these people are women and children.  The government of Omar al-Bashir has blocked much of their access to humanitarian assistance, and they have little access to education or protection.

You can help.  The saddest part of all of this is that it can be stopped, but the world community refuses to act.  World leaders are convinced by the Sudanese government’s narrative that the crises in Darfur is over, even though news reports confirm that the violence in Darfur is progressively getting worse. In November alone, 50 villages in one region were burned, displacing 50,000 people.  In February, the government declared a state of emergency allowing unfettered ability to arrest anyone who questions their authority.

If your elected leaders knew that you were aware of the situation in Darfur, they might change their policies.  Currently, Western governments are removing sanctions, allowing al-Bashir to travel freely, reducing peacekeeping forces, establishing new diplomatic relations, and taking other steps to normalize relations, But we know that the more freedom al-Bashir attains, the more violent he becomes.

 Please join us this month to speak up for the women in Darfur, empower survivors, and seek justice for victims. 

 How can you help?

Please take the following actions to help DWAG:

• Share the story of the women and girls of Zamzam and educate 5-10 of your friends and family. Please let us know their reactions. Report back to us via Facebook, Twitter, or via email at policy@darfurwomenaction.org.
• Support our Stand with Sudan campaign by contacting your member of Congress, the United Nations Security Council, or writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Follow this link for more information: http://www.darfurwomenaction.org/stand-with-sudan/
• Share our statement on social media and use the hashtag #StandWithSudan.
• Donate to our organization to support our “Women Empowering Women” project by following this link: http://www.darfurwomenaction.org/donate/
• Organize a screening of our “Violence Against Women” video to educate more people. Contact us and we will send you a link!
• Organize a fundraising event for DWAG. We will give you all the tools to help us reach our fundraising goals.
• Invite DWAG to speak at your school, congregation or community in order to educate more people about the situation in Darfur.

“Every day I hear stories of resilience, tragedy and horror. And yet, international institutions continue to betray and ignore the women of Darfur.  Together we can change this.”

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President.