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About the Crisis in Darfur
[The following is taken from an
Americans
Against the Darfur Genocide backgrounder.]
Entire villages bombed and destroyed; countless women raped and
gang-raped; wells poisoned; humanitarian aid blocked; hundreds of
thousands murdered and more than 2.5 million civilians displaced—this is
the culture of impunity that continues today in Darfur, a region in
Western Sudan. Today the region is the site of an ongoing genocide
and—according to the UN—the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
The witnesses have horrible stories to tell. This account comes from
Amnesty International's report Darfur: Rape as a Weapon of War: "There
was also another rape on a young single girl aged 17: M. was raped by
six men in front of her house in front of her mother. M's brother, S.,
was then tied up and thrown into [the] fire."
Since February 2003, Sudan's dictators and its proxy Janjaweed
militias have been committing mass murder, mass rape, and other kinds of
systematic violence against Darfur's civilians. More than 500,000 people
have been killed. Millions are now either displaced within their own
county or cling to life as refugees. The World Food Program estimates
that well over 3.5 million need daily food aid in order to survive.
In July 2004, Congress unanimously declared that the situation in
Darfur constituted genocide. The Bush administration followed with its
own official genocide determination in September 2004.
For the past four years, in order to consolidate its power, the
Sudanese government has been fighting various rebel groups based in
Darfur. In May 2006, the Sudanese government and a Darfuri rebel faction
agreed to a U.S.-brokered peace plan, but this agreement is now
effectively dead. The plan required Sudan's military to disarm the
Janjaweed militias, but nothing like this ever happened.
President Bush, the State Department, and a large majority of
Republicans and Democrats in Congress support a multinational protection
force to stop the genocide. But words haven't translated into action.
The people of Darfur continue to suffer without the civilian protection
they need.
Western Sudan is home to the world's largest humanitarian operation.
Forced to work in an incredibly volatile environment, aid agencies in
Darfur have repeatedly warned that they are hanging on a thread: if they
are forced to leave Sudan because of the genocidal violence, then
hundreds of thousands more will die from starvation and disease
Crisis in Darfur
Ten Steps for Darfur – Implementation Report
On December 11, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)
is due to consider the final report of the Group of Experts (GOE)
appointed on Darfur. As the GOE’s report demonstrates, Sudan has not
yet made significant progress in any of the following ten critical,
time-sensitive steps. The HRC should extend the mandate of the GOE
to continue to urge and monitor Sudan’s implementation of the
recommendations.
December 5, 2007 Background
Briefing
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EU-Africa: Summit Should Take Concrete Steps to Tackle Rights Abuses
Protect Civilians in Darfur and Somalia
European and African leaders should go beyond promises and act to
end atrocities, hold abusers to account and combat corruption, Human
Rights Watch said today. The first European Union-Africa summit for
seven years will be held in Lisbon on December 8-9, 2007.
December 4, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Demand Arrests of Darfur Suspects
Security Council Should Urge Cooperation With the
International Criminal Court
The United Nations Security Council should follow up on the
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s report tomorrow and
call on Sudan to surrender two suspects to the court, Human Rights
Watch said today.
December 4, 2007 Press Release
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UN: ICC Needs Backing to Bring Justice for War Crimes
Secretary-General to Address ICC Meeting at UN
Headquarters
The United Nations secretariat and the 105 states that have joined
the International Criminal Court should step up support for the
court so that it can bring justice for war crimes, Human Rights
Watch said today as the ICC opens its annual meeting in New York.
November 30, 2007 Press Release
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Security Council: Urge Cooperation with the International Criminal
Court
Letter to the Security Council
The Security Council’s referral of the situation in Darfur on March
31, 2005 to the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor was a
bright spot in international efforts to address the crisis in
Darfur. The referral gave hope to victims in the region who have
suffered so much and signaled a commitment to ending impunity for
the most serious international crimes.
November 29, 2007 Letter
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Sudan: Cease Darfur Camp Evictions
Forced Relocations by Khartoum Violate International
Law
The government of Sudan’s recent forced relocation of civilians in
South Darfur is a serious violation of international law and could
be the prelude to new attempts to dismantle certain civilian camps,
Human Rights Watch warned today. Sudan’s government should cease the
relocation operation, immediately confirm the whereabouts and
well-being of those who have been moved, and allow the African Union
Mission in Sudan, the United Nations Mission in Sudan, and
humanitarian agencies access to all displaced persons, whether they
reside in camps or other locations in Darfur.
October 31, 2007 Press Release
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Arab League: Development in Darfur Requires End to Abuses
When Arab League members meet in Khartoum this week to
discuss aid and development for Darfur, they should press the
Sudanese government to end the massive human rights violations in
the region, Human Rights Watch and other organizations said today in
a letter to league members.
October 26, 2007 Press Release
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Letter to the Arab League on the Situation in Darfur
We are writing to you in advance of your attendance at the
meeting of the League of Arab States due to take place in Khartoum
on 30-31 October 2007. We are encouraged by this initiative to
discuss the crisis in Darfur, which is clearly of global concern.
October 26, 2007 Letter
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Sudan: New Clashes Jeopardize Civilians
Escalating Violence Highlights Need for Civilian
Protection
Civilians in Darfur are bearing the brunt of escalating fighting
between the Government of Sudan and rebel factions, Human Rights
Watch said today. The organization called on both the Government of
Sudan and rebel factions to cease attacks on civilians and ensure
they are protected.
October 10, 2007 Press Release
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Sudan: Surrender Kosheib
Khartoum Continues to Flout Obligation to Turn Over
Suspects
Sudan should immediately surrender suspect Ali Kosheib to the
International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said today. Sudan
announced yesterday that it had released Kosheib from prison for
lack of evidence.
October 3, 2007 Press Release
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Sudan: Peacekeeper Killings are War Crimes
Government and Rebels Should Aid Investigation
The killing of 10 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur is a war
crime and should be promptly investigated by the United Nations and
the African Union, Human Rights Watch said today.
October 1, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Security Council’s Troop Plan in Chad/CAR Risks Failing Many
Forces Should Protect all Civilians in Danger
The international forces for Chad and the Central African Republic,
authorized by the United Nations Security Council, should focus on
protecting civilians affected by escalating violence in the region,
Human Rights Watch said today. But it is crucial that the operation
address the protection needs of those most affected by ongoing
insecurity.
September 27, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Summit on Africa Should Not Overlook Justice
United Nations Security Council leaders meeting today to
discuss peace and security in Africa should not leave justice off
the agenda, Human Rights Watch said. French President Nicolas
Sarkozy is chairing the meeting this afternoon in New York.
September 25, 2007 Press Release
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Ten Steps for
Darfur
Indicators for Evaluating Progress in the HRC Group of
Experts Process
On September 24, 2007, the Human Rights Council will consider an
interim report by the Group of Experts (GOE) appointed on Darfur.
The GOE compiled existing recommendations on Darfur in its June
report, and has been working with the government of Sudan to foster
their implementation. Human Rights Watch urges that the Council look
at a number of concrete actions which could contribute to immediate
changes on the ground in Darfur. Many of these steps are actions the
government of Sudan has said it is already taking or is committed to
take. The Human Rights Council should hold Sudan to those
commitments, and should specifically call on Sudan, in the context
of its work with the GOE, to take the following ten steps before the
HRC’s December session.
September 24, 2007 Background
Briefing
Sudan: Civilians Under Attack in Scramble for Darfur
UN Should Impose Sanctions If Khartoum Continues
Attacks, Obstruction
As the United Nations and African Union prepare to deploy the
world’s largest-ever peacekeeping mission to Darfur, Sudanese
government forces, allied “Janjaweed” militia, rebels and former
rebels have free rein to attack civilians and humanitarian workers
in Darfur, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
September 20, 2007 Press Release
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Darfur 2007:
Chaos by Design
Peacekeeping Challenges for AMIS and UNAMID
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This 76-page report describes the current human
rights situation in Darfur. Recent case studies from across
Darfur illustrate how the proliferation of armed actors and the
government’s failure to strengthen the rule of law –
particularly the police – are contributing to the abuses. |
HRW Index No.: A1915
September 20, 2007 Report
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Photo Essay:
Crisis in Darfur - Civilians Under Attack
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Internally displaced women return to the Fata
Borno camp from the Kutum market under escort by African Union
peacekeepers, January 2007. When venturing out of the camps,
women are vulnerable to attack and rape, especially from
Janjaweed and former rebels. © 2007 Gary Knight / VII |
September 20, 2007 Graphic
Also available in
Darfur: Urgent Measures Needed to Address Sexual Violence
Hybrid Force Should Enhance Civilian Protection
Capabilities
International peacekeepers in Darfur should provide civilian
protection and use rapid-response capabilities to protect women from
widespread rape and other sexual violence, Human Rights Watch said
today.
August 22, 2007 Press Release
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Human Rights Watch Letter to the Chairman of the African Union
Commission and the Under-Secretary-General for United Nations
Peacekeeping Operations
Human Rights Watch welcomes the news that African governments
have responded so rapidly to the call for troops for the hybrid
force. However the statement that these pledges mean the operation
“would not need to resort to non-African troops” raises a number of
substantial concerns. In our view, fielding the most capable force
in the shortest time possible must be your overriding objective.
August 15, 2007 Letter
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Darfur Needs Most Efficient, Trained Troops Immediately
Letter to African Union Chairman and the
Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations
The nationalities of troops should not impede the urgent
establishment of the most effective peacekeeping force possible for
Darfur, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to the chairman of
the African Union Commission and to the United Nations
under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations. The new African
Union-United Nations hybrid peacekeeping force must have military
and civilian components, including police, that are experienced,
well-trained and well-equipped if it is to deliver on its promise to
protect civilians in Darfur.
August 15, 2007 Press Release
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