Category: Statements

As some of you may know, we have launched a petition to the Trump Administration regarding the imposition of sanctions aginst Sudan.  You can find the link here.

We have also created a template for individuals to send to their congressman/woman encouraging them to oppose the US decision to remove sanctions.

Darfur Women Action Group in partnership with Darfuri, Sudanese-American, and friends of Sudan

State of  {}

                                                                                                                    Date: 7//5/17

Dear Congressman/woman []

I am writing this urgent message to you to share our concerns regarding the situation in Sudan. I ask that the US government maintain sanctions on Sudan, as it would be an important first step our government takes to end the long suffering of the Darfuri people as the 14-year genocide continues alongside massive human rights abuses in Sudan.

As members of your constituency, we are very appreciative of your commitment to human rights and justice at home and internationally. We appeal to you to make Darfur and Sudan your priority and to be our voice within the American government.

We are gravely concerned about the ongoing violence, rape, arrests, and torture that have devastated the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur. Countless men, women, and children have lost their lives, while the living endures unimaginable suffering with nowhere to escape.

The ICC has also accused al-Bashir of the world’s worst crimes- genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bashir in addition to his crimes against the people of Darfur, he has perpetrated multiple conflicts across Sudan. His regime continues to order the rape of its civilians, and as a result, thousands of women and girls face the most brutal and dehumanizing act of abuse. In most cases those who are targeted for rape are minors, constituting the worst violations of our morals and values in which America believes.

Moreover, President al-Bashir’s regime has reportedly used chemical weapons against the people of Darfur as recently as September 2016. Although documented by credible sources, the occurrence has not yet been investigated, victims have not yet been treated, nor has accountability taken place.

Furthermore, President al-Bashir has used starvation and the blockade of humanitarian assistance for years to kill more people in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile region.

As if this were not enough, President al-Bashir’s government continues its close connection with terrorist groups across the Middle East and Africa to destabilize the area. This, of course, threatens the national security of the United States and the international community.

As the crimes against the people Darfur,  President al-Bashir has also ordered the destruction of churches throughout  Sudan along with the arrest and torture of Christian minorities in Sudan. They are consistently forced into exile demonstrating a violation of religious freedom for Sudanese citizens.

Al-Bashir’s regime continues to systematically arrest and torture human rights defenders, students, journalists and civil society leaders from Darfur and other conflict areas while restricting freedom of assembly, expression, and association.

To date, over 3 million victims of genocide, particularly in Darfur, are still without their homes and face the threat of death daily. Another million are displaced from South Kordofan and the Blue Nile region. Over 4 million people are without a home with no security or peace in place to allow them to return.

The Janjaweed’s Arab militias, the notorious Rapid Support Forces, and the border guards are still in full capacity as perpetrators with total impunity of atrocities against innocent civilians.

The Sudanese government has recently presented a new false narrative to get away with its crimes. The government perpetuates the idea that the situation in Darfur has improved, even as several attacks against civilian have taken place and have been documented, including the massacre in January 2017.

The fact of the matter is that the Sudanese government is responsible for all the crimes including when to attack. Creating a false narrative that ignores protection and accountability for 4 million people is an additional crime, one which we cannot and must not tolerate

Given the current conditions on the ground, lifting sanctions will only reward and help the regime gain access to more financial resources, international trade and investments, which will help them purchase more weapons that endanger the lives of millions of civilians, many who are already under attack. Also, rescinding sanctions will help the al-Bashir administration continue to support terrorist groups.

If the US lifts sanctions and ignores the above-noted facts, it would be a clear affront to the human rights’ norms that are enshrined in our American values. Lifting sanctions on Sudan will not only legitimize President al-Bashir and enable him to continue the slaughter of his citizens but will send a message to other criminals around the world that they will not be held accountable.

We believe that US engagement with Sudan must be built by protection of human rights, accountability, and sustainability. Representative xxxx with your help, the US administration can make this possible.

Accordingly, we urge you to stand with the genocide victims in Sudan and uphold US legal and human rights’ norms by asking the Trump administration to implement the following recommendations:

• Maintain the existing US sanctions on Sudan until al-Bashir stops his attacks on civilians
• Integrate targeted sanctions and impose a travel ban on individuals responsible for committing crimes in Darfur and across Sudan
• Support the implementation of the arrest warrants against Sudanese criminals wanted by the International Criminal Court.
• Pressure al-Bashir’s government to disarm militias committing atrocities in Darfur
• Lead the UN Security Council in providing effective civilian protection in Sudan
• Allow victims from Darfur and other crises affected areas to seek refuge in the US
• Provide support to the historically excluded and victimized communities in Sudan, to rebuild their lives and bring sustainable peace in Sudan.  

Representative, we as members of your constituency, the people of Sudan and the American public looks up to you to do what is right to end the suffering in Sudan  We thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

The undersigned

We hear stories of resilience, tragedy, and horror every single day. And yet, international institutions continue to betray and ignore the women of Darfur. You can help.

Dear supporters,

On this International Women’s Day, we would like to bring your attention to the daily suffering and resilience of women in Darfur, and ask for your help. While most women around the globe are celebrating their achievements, Darfuri women are still under genocidal attack and continue to be victims of brutal and systematic sexual violence. In the meantime, international intuitions are failing to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) strives to change the way that the world responds to crimes committed against women in Darfur and we need your help.

Today, we will honor one of these brave women by sharing her story. Nafisa Suleiman Haroun, 36 years old, was recently stabbed in the heart while fighting for dignity. Please read her story and support Darfuri women by taking the actions suggested at the bottom of our statement. By honoring Nafisa we will honor every single woman who has been a victim of genocide in Darfur and elsewhere.

On February 13, five women left their village in Barbogat area, North Darfur state, to collect firewood from a nearby valley. For the past 13 years, firewood has been the main source of fuel and cooking for families in displaced camps. Usually, women have to walk for many hours, or sometimes for a whole day, to reach a forest.

As the five women distanced themselves from their homes, three armed men on horseback surrounded and attempted to rape them. The women resisted with all their strength. They refused to be violated. They did not want to become victims of the systematic rape in Darfur – a tactic used by the Sudanese regime to undermine Darfuris.

As the women fought back, the armed men grew angry with their refusal. One of the men stabbed 36-year-old Nafisa Suleiman Haroun – in the heart. She died on the spot. Nafisa paid a very high price for her dignity.

We were horrified and deeply impacted by the news reports of this incident on the heels of International Women’s Day. Not only because it is tragic, or because the stabbing in the heart is symbolic of the situation of women in Darfur, but also because similar incidents of rape and violence happen every day in the region with total impunity.

What is happening in Darfur?

For more than 13 years, the Sudanese government’s military forces and their allied militia (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 and intimidation. As a result, over 3 million Darfuris were forced to leave their villages for Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camps located in Chad. Over 80% of these people are women and children, who live with limited access to humanitarian assistance, education, and protection.

Countless women and girls are subjected to brutal rape, humiliation, beating, starvation and diseases on a daily basis. Rape and sexual violence in Darfur are not mere byproducts of war. They are well-planned and deliberately orchestrated attacks intended to tear apart families, break down leadership structures, and leave long-term social, emotional, and physical scars on entire communities.

Despite the alarming rate of rape and other forms of sexual violence, little has been done to address the situation. Until today, no research has been conducted to determine the exact number of women raped and the impact of sexual violence on women and girls. Tragically, the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

International leaders have failed to take action, and have been echoing the Sudanese Government’s narrative that the crisis in Darfur is over. Even though the Sudanese Government claims that the situation has improved, violence is progressively getting worse. According to a report by Amnesty International, in the first six months of 2016, at least 32 villages in the Jebel Marra region were bombed with chemical weapons, killing between 200 and 250 civilians. On the very first day of 2017, military troops viciously invaded the city of Nertiti, in Jebel Marra, and committed a brutal massacre, slaughtering 10 innocent civilians and injuring another 60 people during the attacks.

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

• Share our statement on social media and use the hashtag #StopRapeInDarfur.
• Donate to our organization to support our “Women Empowering Women” project to raise U$ 10,000 by the end of March.
• 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 center in order to educate more people about the situation in Darfur.

With gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, President Darfur Women Action Group
1050 17th Street NW , Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036

Darfur’s catastrophe has been ongoing for fourteen years, and the number of civilian casualties increases every day while the world remains SILENT!

Violence, rape, arrest, and torture have devastated the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur for more than a decade. Countless men, women, and children have lost their lives, while many continue to endure unimaginable suffering. Violence is still being inflicted on the Darfuris at an alarming rate. However, world leaders have remained silent and have not taken actions to stop the genocide against our people. Those who have spoken up have not moved beyond words of condemnation.As you may be aware, 2016 was a very difficult year for Darfur. The Sudanese government mercilessly attacked civilians, even using chemical weapons. We were hoping that 2017 would bring some improvement. Unfortunately, new attacks have taken place and the international community again failed to speak up. In fact, powerful political forces across the globe, such as the United States, have been working to improve relations with Sudan, instead of condemning its genocidal campaign.

As you may be aware, 2016 was a very difficult year for Darfur. The Sudanese government mercilessly attacked civilians, even using chemical weapons. We were hoping that 2017 would bring some improvement. Unfortunately, new attacks have taken place and the international community again failed to speak up. In fact, powerful political forces across the globe, such as the United States, have been working to improve relations with Sudan, instead of condemning its genocidal campaign.

Ongoing Genocide

For more than 13 years, the Sudanese government’s military forces and their allied militia (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 and intimidation. As a result, over 4 million Darfuris have been affected, and over 3 million were forced to leave their villages and settle in displacement camps located in Sudan and Chad. To date, over 3 million people remain in these camps, with limited access to humanitarian assistance, education, and food.

While little has been done to improve the situation, a new surge of violence has recently been taking place in the area, with even more cruelty and disregard for human life.

According to a report by Amnesty International, in the first six months of 2016, at least 32 villages in the Jebel Marra region were targeted with chemical bombs, most likely sulfur mustard, lewisite or nitrogen mustard. As a result, between 200 and 250 civilians died of exposure to these agents, most of them children. Many others developed life-threatening symptoms, including severe gastrointestinal conditions involving bloody vomiting and diarrhea, blistering and rashes on the skin, loss of vision, and respiratory problems.

Throughout 2016, the Government of Sudan also renewed and intensified traditional aerial bombing and ground attacks in Jebel Mara, Mouli and the city of El Geneina (capital of West Darfur). According to our sources, more than 124 villages were completely destroyed. Over 100,000 people were forced to flee – some to the caves at the top of the Marra Mountains, and others to displacement camps and nearby cities – where they remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance. To make matters even worse, many women and girls were raped or taken hostage during the attacks. Their fates remain unknown.

As we rang in the New Year with hopes that the situation would improve, the Sudanese Armed Forces and their militia attacked yet again. On the very first day of 2017, military troops viciously invaded the city of Nertiti, in Jebel Marra, and committed a brutal massacre, slaughtering 10 innocent civilians and injuring another 60 people. Among the fatal victims were several young children and the only doctor in the city, whose job was to save lives. On that same week, another tragic attack took place in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state. On this occasion, five people were killed.

The Situation is Urgent

To date, the United Nations has not investigated any of the incidents described above, nor has it demanded accountability. Strategically, the Sudanese government has denied aid workers and journalists access to the areas affected. Consequently, there is no official record of the killings – only the shocking accounts of victims on the ground. President al-Bashir has also dismissed calls for an independent investigation on the use of chemical weapons, clearly because he does not want to be punished for his crimes. Even more concerning is the fact that the president has limited humanitarian assistance for his victims.

We are also disturbed that all of these attacks happened while the United Nation African Union Mission (UNAMID) was on the ground in Darfur, and in many instances not far away from the crime scenes. UNAMID’s mission in Darfur is to protect civilians and to provide adequate reporting of violent incidents. However, it has consistently failed to give an account of deaths and sexual violence committed by the regime forces. UNAMID’s incompetency and partiality have enabled the Government of Sudan to dilute the truth about the attacks and restrict the flow of humanitarian assistance to the needy.

Sadly, the United Nations and the international community have remained silent, and instead of publicly condemning Sudan, many countries have worked to improve relations with the corrupt government based on their own interests. In 2016, the European Union (EU) engaged in a new collaborative initiative, in which it pays Sudan to stop the flow of African refugees into Europe. The deal is a clear affront to human rights values and, since the EU is not monitoring the money, we fear that the Sudanese government will use the funding to purchase more weapons and bombs. At the same time, the United States decided to drop sanctions against Sudan in order to collaborate with the country against terrorism. The move is not only controversial – since the Sudanese government is a terrorist country – but it also legitimizes President al-Bashir and enables him to continue to slaughter with impunity.

Challenges for the Future

President al-Bashir is the mastermind behind the genocide in Darfur. Since 2009, he is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for 10 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. However, he has never been arrested for his crimes and continues to run Sudan. The president often travels freely in Africa and the Middle East – despite the fact that many of the countries that he visits are members of the ICC and have a responsibility to carry out arrest warrants for the court.

We fear that if al-Bashir continued with this impunity in power, the Government of Sudan will carry out the ‘final solution’ against the Darfuri people as they repeatedly signaled. The Sudanese government has already declared its intent to shut down displacement camps by 2017. In the meantime, there is a strong possibility that most lands of indigenous Darfuri victims will be officially assigned to Arab tribes and new settlers. This means that millions of Darfuris will have absolutely no place to go, and will likely be killed until the Darfuri people are fully exterminated and the final face of genocide is complete.

We are also concerned for Darfuris who try to leave the country in search of a safety and survival. Many are received in foreign countries with despise and are sometimes sent back to face the very genocidal regime that they fled for protection. This happened in December 2015, when 700 Darfuri refugees were forcibly returned from Jordan back to Sudan. In September 2016, another 48 Sudanese were forcibly deported from Italy. Upon their arrival back home, the refugees were detained by the Sudanese government and severely beaten. We condemn such initiatives and ask that world leaders take in Darfuri genocide survives asylum seekers with open arms, for they have suffered enough and needs to be protected.

Change in the Narrative

Despite the alarming situation in Darfur, the international community has chosen to ignore al-Bashir’s leading role in the massacre and look the other way. Similarly, the mainstream media has failed to cover the current situation and the ongoing genocide. Darfur is no longer making headlines in the New York Times or Washington Post as it had in the past.

Likewise, many advocates have moved away from the Darfur issue or have passively accepted the narrative imposed by the Sudanese government, which replaces the word “genocide” with “mass atrocities or conflict”. It may seem like a harmless grammatical tweak, but there are severe consequences to this change. Avoiding the word “genocide” waters down the urgency of the situation in Darfur and allows the world to move away from this issue, and to focus on other international crisis around the world.

The world may think the crisis in Darfur has ended, but the truth is that genocide continues unabated. On top of the violent incidents described above, schoolgirls are raped on a weekly basis, college students are systematically imprisoned, and dissidents of the regime are killed with no mercy. In one day alone, on October 31st, 2014, 221 women and girls were raped in the Tabit village and the perpetrators have suffered no consequences. Additionally, the number of newly displaced people continues to grow exponentially. Over 460,000 Darfuris were displaced in 2013, another 500,000 were displaced in 2014, and over 233,000 people were displaced in the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, many Darfuris have lived in displacement camps for 13 years – and are unable to return home in fear of their lives.

This is why we need you, your voice, and your support.

In spite of the challenges, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and its supporters remain vigilant and refuse to stand idly by. We say NO to the silent conspiracy on Darfur and YES to empowering survivors and ordinary citizens to speak up.

We call upon our supporters to stand with us. We are currently mobilizing and organizing the Diaspora within the United States and across the globe to use their voices, bring more attention to this terrible situation, and demand that our leaders act now before it is too late.

We cannot do this without your support and that is why we are calling on you to stand by our side.

We know that you care and that you will not be a bystander in the face of such horrific crimes. DWAG believes that in the face of genocide, we must not let our leaders turn a blind eye or look the other way. We need you to add your voice, speak with us, and mobilize the masses. If we can reach out to more people, we will definitely compel our leaders to act promptly. We at DWAG are determined to continue to fight against these horrific crimes. We will continue to expose al-Bashir’s crimes to the world, fight for justice for the victims, and demand accountability for the perpetrators of the world’s worst crimes.

We need all of you. Together, we can remind the world that al-Bashir and his cronies cannot be allowed to get away with murder. In the coming days, we will need your support to speak to the leaders of the European Union and the newly elected government in the United States to exert pressure on Sudan.

They need to understand that support for the regime in Sudan will enable more killing. We will continue to share and provide opportunities for you to take action. Please help us to spread the word and get more people involved. As Dr. Martin Luther King said, “the time is always right to do what is right.”

We are grateful to have you by our side.
With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group
1050 17th Street NW , Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036