Sample Letter: A Letter To The Congress

Download the template here: A Letter To The Congress

For more up to date information, please contact: communication@darfurwomenaction.org.

Sudan Needs You! Campaign

Dear (Representative (______)/Senator (______),

My name is (____), and I am from (state of ____).

I am writing to bring to your attention the urgent situation in Sudan and ask for your help to speak up for the suffering people of Sudan. Until today, over 95% of Darfur has fallen under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control, and there is no more barricade in front of their slaughter and extermination of the indigenous African population. This is why I am appealing to you for help and support.

The war in Sudan that ignited on April 15th , 2023 is now completely out of  control. While the atrocities in Khartoum constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under the international law, in Darfur, an active genocide has been systematically carried out against indigenous African people. The international community must take action to end it and hold those responsible accountable.

As of this week, Darfur has completely fallen under the RSF occupation – with the exception of Elfasher in North Darfur. In recent weeks, mass killings have escalated to an alarming rate, and with its scale enlarging: first in El Geneina, West Darfur, and now in Ardamta Kutum, Tawila in North Darfur, Mornay in West Darfur, and Nyala in South Darfur. But the international community remained silent and the inaction is indirectly legitimizing the slaughter and extermination of the indigenous African population in Sudan. The only city that has yet to be attacked is El-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state and the stronghold of Rezaigat tribes.
However, the military in El-Daein has declared its full support and affiliation to the RSF and now civilians are facing new waves of attacks

The RSF’s attacks are systemic and precisely directed toward the indigenous African population. These attacks include mass slaughtering of innocent people, deprivation of access to food, water, and medical assistance, a blockade to the access of phone services, internet, electricity, and other
services. These actions constitute a precise strategy to isolate civilians and to eliminate all survival means and humanitarian aid. News confirmed that over 1,300 civilians have been slaughtered; among the murdered were over 800 young men, most of whom were between the ages of 15-30. Since the beginning of the war, it is estimated that more than 1.2 million people
have fled from their homes. Most of them are women and children, with approximately 1 in 6 of whom are with disabilities. Women of all ages are in terrible danger as they are targeted constantly to be treated as sexual slaves and raped on a daily basis.

Here are the immediate actions that need to be taken by the US:

• Robust intervention to protect civilians and to stop the genocide in Darfur.
• Open an unhindered humanitarian access channel in Sudan and Darfur to reach all those in need.
• Pursue accountability for those most responsible for the past and current genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur and across the Sudan.
• Impose targeted sanctions such as freezing assets, travel bans, and sanctioning all business associated with the two warring generals in Sudan in order to cut the funding for their weapons.
• Deploy immediate humanitarian intervention to all in need inside Sudan and in the neighboring countries with and without the permission of the government.
• Hold the regional enablers of the genocide in Darfur accountable, including regional and international actors supplying funds and weaponry to the RSF.
• Provide support of the CSOs and women who are historically marginalized Sudanese civilians in order to have the capacity and voice at all levels of decision-making for solutions to the current crises.

I implore you to call on the US government to also take an Atrocities Prevention Approach. In the face of genocide and the current unspeakable atrocities, solutions must take an atrocity prevention approach that starts with civilian protection and distribution of humanitarian aid. This
should be followed by pursuing accountability for the most heinous international crimes, which will then create an environment that enables a peaceful transformation of Sudan.

As my state representative I look up to you for support and voice. Silence and lack of reporting will aid the perpetrators. Remember, as humans, we have a moral and ethical obligation to speak up when acts of genocide occur.

Under international law when civilians are under attack, face mass killings, and are in the absence of humanitarian assistance, the international community, including the US, bears the responsibility to intervene to protect civilians and save lives. In the face of devastating crises in
Sudan and the rapidly escalating genocidal attacks in Darfur, we must not let US leaders look the other way. The crisis in Sudan and the catastrophe in Darfur are of global magnitude which requires global response that includes the demand that US government must act as one voice to
help end this genocide and hold perpetrators accountable.

It is imperative that the US stands with the people of Darfur and Sudan in this difficult time and work with allies to bring protection and accountability to the victims of the crisis, to be followed by peace and a civilian-led government. This is the only way to prevent genocide and bring
about democracy and sustainable peace. As a member of your constituency, I look up to you and kindly urge you to be my voice and the voice for those voiceless in Darfur by supporting these immediate actions.

Thank you for your serious consideration of this urgent request.

Sincerely,

(Name)