September 1, 2004

U.S. Should Lead at the UN to Stop the
Atrocities in Darfur
Weak Measures Play into the Hands of the Government of Sudan

Washington, DC – Citizens for Global Solutions urges the U.S. administration to continue to stand by its strong position against the atrocities being committed in Darfur, Sudan by calling on the United Nations to impose sanctions against the Government of Sudan.

Tomorrow the UN special envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk is expected to address the Security Council regarding the level of progress made in restoring stability to the Darfur region since the July 30 resolution. The weak resolution has not succeeded in reducing violence in Darfur. Rather, attacks on civilians, burning of the few villages left, and continued systematic rape of women and girls has escalated. The UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has documented a new influx of refugees to Chad as a result of the recent attacks.

“The UN Resolution clearly has had little impact. The Government of Sudan has not reined in its rebel militias,” said Harpinder Athwal, Peace and Security Program Manager, Citizens for Global Solutions. “The international community cannot play this game of cat and mouse with Sudan. If we are serious about stopping the atrocities, we have to act now.”

Citizens for Global Solutions calls for the U.S. administration to:

• Pressure the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Sudan and specific sanctions against individuals and businesses associated with the Government, responsible for the atrocities in Darfur.
• Provide logistical, transport and air support for the current AU observer mission in Darfur, as well as the possible AU peacekeeping mission, and call on the international community to also support the AU’s efforts.
• Call for the UN to authorize the African Union under Chapter VII of UN Charter to increase the number of troops on the ground and expand their mandate to include protection of civilians.
• Maintain pressure at the United Nations to plan for a humanitarian intervention if the conditions on the ground in Darfur do not improve and the killing and rape do not stop.
• Support the Global Peace Operations Initiative announced in June 2004 at the G8 Summit by appropriating funds for the program, which will support regional peacekeeping organizations such as the African Union.

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