Nanda Chitre Enough
Action Fund
M. Allyn Brooks LaSure Save Darfur Coalition
Sam Bell Genocide Intervention Network
Presidential
Candidates’ Positions Revealed on Darfur
Washington, D.C., September 11, 2008 - The three leading activist
organizations committed to ending the atrocities and violence in
Darfur today released a questionnaire highlighting the positions of
Senators John McCain and Barack Obama on ending the violence and
suffering for millions of Darfuris. The
Save Darfur Coalition, the Enough
Action Fund, and the Genocide
Intervention Network questioned the candidates regarding the
overall situation in Sudan and the role of key actors, including China
and the International Criminal Court, in resolving the genocide in
Darfur.
Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition President, said, “Throughout the
past several months, Senators McCain and Obama have both articulated
their strong commitment to ending the atrocities in Darfur. Their
responses to this questionnaire add specifics to their rhetorical calls
to end the bloodshed and misery for millions of Darfuris. Ultimately,
the next president will not be judged by his words on Darfur – but his
actions to end the violence and suffering.”
“The
answers from both candidates are quite revealing,” added Mark Hanis,
Executive Director of the Genocide Intervention Network. “They say a
great deal about their vision and leadership style for the most
important job in the world.”
John
Norris, Executive Director of the Enough Action Fund, noted, ”Both
candidates have recognized the situation in Darfur as genocide; now we
get to see what they are willing to do about it. It appears there would
be a significant shift in U.S. relations with Sudan under either a
President McCain or a President Obama.”
The three
groups noted with interest that both candidates’ positions are far more
robust than those taken by the current administration. With more than
300,000 dead in Darfur and more than two million people driven from
their homes, the time has come to act decisively. The survey and
additional information can be found at www.askthecandidates.org.
Ask
the Candidates is a national campaign to encourage all
presidential candidates to prioritize ending the genocide in Darfur,
Sudan. It is a joint project of the following organizations:
The Genocide Intervention Network envisions
a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect
civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. Our mission is to empower
individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop
genocide. GI-Net is mobilizing a permanent anti-genocide constituency
that has the power to pressure policymakers, creating an incentive for
taking action against genocide and a political cost for failing to do
so.
The Save Darfur Coalition
raises public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and
mobilizes a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives
of people throughout the Darfur region. It is an alliance of more than
180 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations. The
coalition's member organizations represent 130 million people of all
ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to
help the people of Darfur. For more information on the coalition,
please visit www.SaveDarfur.org
Enough Action Fund works to end
genocide and crimes against humanity through education,
awareness-raising, legislation and advocacy. Enough Action Fund works
closely to coordinate on policy and advocacy with its partner
organization, the Enough Project.