The American people have raised their voices in an unprecedented show of grassroots activism to call for action in Darfur. Though horrific images from Darfur continue to fill our television screens, there is hope for Darfur. The perseverance of Darfurians, the courage of aid workers, and the actions of ordinary citizens and world leaders committed to long-lasting peace in Darfur continue to inspire action and bring about change.

The international community, led by the United States, has the tools it needs to respond to the 4-year old crisis in Darfur and act upon its responsibility to protect innocent civilians. Now is the time for the international community to work together, pool its resources, and respond with one strong voice and end the killings in Darfur. The United States can use its influential status in the Security Council and in the international community to support the current African Union force and pave the way for U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur.

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Citizens for Global Solutions recommends five steps FOR u.s. POLICY to help end the ATROCITIES in Darfur:

1. Build an energized, effective, and inclusive peace process, including strengthening rebel unity. The Darfur Peace Agreement, signed in Mary 2005, has failed to bring a sustainable ceasefire or peace to Darfur.  A multilateral team, including the U.S., needs to bring together rebels in both Chad and Darfur to help articulate a unified rebel position and bring all parties back to the table for a renewed peace process.

2. Work with the U.N. and the international community to ensure deployment of international peacekeeping forces and implementation of the three-phase Addis Ababa agreement. This includes paying our full share of U.N. peacekeeping dues -- U.S. arrears are expected to top $1 billion in FY08 -- and contributing fully to humanitarian aid efforts.  Regardless of whether a hybrid African Union-U.N. force or a full U.N. force deploys in Darfur, the U.S. must ensure that a strong and robust force is on the ground.

3. Engage Sudan’s closest allies – especially China – to play a positive and public role in Darfur. The U.S. should work with China, Russia and Arab states to pressure the Sudanese government. With its economic relationship
with the Sudan and its oil interests in the region, China is especially well positioned to play a crucial role in ending the violence.

4. Engage in concrete, consistent, and effective cooperation with the ICC on Darfur. In March 2005, the U.N. Security Council referred the case of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the ICC, recently requested a summons to appear for two men accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. As a member of the Security Council, the U.S. must match the Court's efforts by affirmatively submitting any relevant evidence and cooperating completely with the ICC's prosecution of those responsible for atrocities in Darfur.

5. Take more forceful punitive measures against the Government of Sudan.  Stronger measures should include implementing a no-fly zone, a full range of targeted individual sanctions, targeted divestment (especially from the petroleum sector), and targeted freeze of assets and Sudanese off-shore accounts.

POLICY ANALYSIS

Responsibility to Protect
The Responsibility to Protect means that no state can hide behind the concept of sovereignty while it conducts–or permits– widespread harm to its population. It also implies that other countries cannot turn a blind eye when these events occur beyond their borders just because it does not suit their narrowly-defined national interests.
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The International Criminal Court
The U.S. has tacitly acknowledged the crucial role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in ending the genocide in Darfur. Most significantly, in March 2005, the U.S. refrained from obstructing the UN Security Council’s decision to refer the Darfur situation to the ICC, thereby allowing the Court to bring suspected Sudanese war criminals to justice. 
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• NEW! "No Peace without Justice: U.S. Must Cooperate with the ICC on Darfur"
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• "Chad Joins the ICC: Analysis and Implications for the Darfur Crisis"
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• "Darfur and the ICC: Ensuring Accountability"
  + READ FACT SHEET IN PDF FORMAT