Darfur Action Campaign
This summer AJWS is intensifying our work to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur. Recognizing that humanitarian aid is crucial but will not stop the genocide, AJWS is engaged in an intense advocacy campaign to halt the crisis.
Today the world spotlight is on China, whose economic and political support for Sudan continues to underwrite the violence in Darfur. AJWS, along with partners in the anti-genocide movement, is using the Beijing Olympic Games as a window of opportunity to raise awareness about the links between China and the government of Sudan, and to increase the pressure on those who have a role to play in ending the violence, including the U.S. government, U.N. Security Council members and mutual funds, as well as corporate sponsors of the Olympics such as NBC and Coca-Cola.
Did You Know?
It has been over a year since the U.N. Security Council authorized the deployment of a U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission to Darfur, but the mission has less than 10,000 of the authorized 26,000 peacekeepers and remains grossly under-funded and under-resourced.
Actions You Can Take Now for Darfur
Watch the Darfur Olympics
AJWS partner Olympic Dream for Darfur is broadcasting an alternative Opening Ceremony on August 8 at 8:08 a.m. EST and webcasting a daily report by Mia Farrow from a Darfur refugee camp from August 9 to 16, 2008.
Tell NBC to Cover the China-Sudan Connection
As both a leading news provider and broadcaster of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, NBC has an obligation to report on China's relationship to the government of Sudan and the ongoing violence in Darfur.
China is the largest supplier of small arms to Sudan and also its biggest trading partner. Because of its interests in Sudan, China has acted as Sudan's protector and allowed the atrocities in Darfur to continue. As the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing approach, we have a unique opportunity to pressure China to use its influence to help the people of Darfur.
Learn more about China's relationship to Sudan
Divest Yourself
AJWS is part of a national campaign encouraging mutual fund companies to make investments genocide-free. You can help by examining your personal investments, urging major financial institutions to divest from problematic companies or, if you have investments with Fidelity, by voting with your proxy ballot at the upcoming May 14 shareholder meeting.
Take Action: Send a message to mutual fund companies today
Background on the Crisis
Since 2003, the government of Sudan and their proxy militia, the Janjaweed, have been conducting a counter-insurgency operation against rebel groups in Darfur. Their primary strategy is a scorched earth campaign targeting communities that share the same ethnicity as the rebels. Government forces and Janjaweed continue to terrorize and kill civilians, rape women and girls, burn villages, and drive innocent people from their homes. More than two million people have been displaced and at least 450,000 have lost their lives to this genocidal campaign.
Since 2004, AJWS has been providing humanitarian aid while simultaneously engaging in U.S.-based education and advocacy to end the crisis.
The people of Darfur need protection now.
Send a letter to U.S. leaders and the U.N. Secretary-General.
