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Darfur Australia Community Consultation
The Darfur Australia Network Community Consultation meeting is confirmed to take place this weekend:
When: 1pm Sunday, May 19
Where: Ross House (ground floor)
The Darfur Community Association meeting will take place after the DAN Consultation.
All Darfuri community members are most welcome to attend.
Peace Project taking a stand against genocide in Sudan
More than 300 people rallied in Melbourne's City Square advocating for urgent action to end the abuse of human rights that have plagued Sudan for 10 years.
Take a look at the Sudan Peace Project and 'freeze' flash mob, hosted by Jewish Aid: Australia has a vital role in protecting the people of Darfur and Sudan.
Panel forum - Sudan, 10 years after
The Darfur Australia Network (DAN), in partnership with the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law and the Sudan Peace Project, is pleased to present a panel forum on Sudan, 10 years after the conflict began.
The keynote speaker will be Professor Alex Bellamy, Professor of International Security at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University and Non-Resident Senior Adviser at the International Peace Institute, New York.
Date: Thursday 30 May 2013
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Petition to Australian Leaders: Stop the on-going atrocities in Sudan
The Sudan Peace Project has launched a petition urging political leaders to use Australia's position on the UN Security Council to stop the atrocities which have plagued Sudan for a decade.
Sign here and share far and wide!
Sudan Peace Project Main Event
Nuba Now Campaign
28 April 2013
On Sunday 28 April 2013, around 250 people joined in Melbourne's City Square and CBD for the Sudan Peace Project public event and flashmob, hosted by Jewish Aid Australia.
We took a stand and reminded the Australian public, government and the international community that silence and inaction is not an option and the international community’s commitment of “Never Again” must be upheld.
The moving speeches given on the day were followed by a flashmob to raise wider community awarenesss that there is still much to be done.
Like the Nuba Now Campaign on Facebook to see pictures and video of the rally.
Volunteer Wanted - Accounts and Finance Officer
DAN is currently seeking applications for the volunteer position of Accounts and Finance Officer.
If you have 1-2 days available a week, have experience in administration and finance and are passionate about humanitarian advocacy and community work you may find that the positions is just right for you.
The position description and application process are here: Accounts and Finance Officer.
For more information please email contact@darfuraustralia.org.au.
After a decade of Darfur it’s time to stop appeasing Sudan’s criminal cabal
New Statesman, 27 April 2013
An opinion piece in the New Statesman on the tenth anniversary of the start of the attacks on Darfur’s people says that the international community's appeasement of the Bashir regime must stop.
Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act 2013 introduced in the US House of Reps
Enough Project, 25 April 2013
The Enough Project reports on the Sudan Peace, Security and Accountability Act 2013 introduced in the US House of Representatives on 24 April 2013 by Congressman Jim McGovern.
The Act would create a comprehensive US strategy to:
- end serious human rights violations in Sudan,
- provide genuine accountability for persons who have committed or assisted in serious human rights violations,
- support Sudanese aspiration for democratic reforms,
- encourage other governments and persons to end support of and assistance to the government of Sudan, and
- reinvigorate genuinely comprehensive and sustainable peace efforts that can end Sudan’s multiple crises.
Watch Rep. McGovern's speech here.
Darfur war crimes suspect rebel Jerbo 'killed in Sudan'
BBC News, 24 April 2013
BBC News reports that the defence team of Sudanese rebel Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus, who was charged with war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court, has been killed during fighting in North Darfur. He was due to go on trial in May 2014 over a deadly attack on African peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.
The Hague says the ICC must get proof of his death before the case is dropped.
Rebel attacks move closer to Khartoum
There are reports that Darfur rebel groups have expanded into areas closer to Khartoum. Residents of Um Rawaba, a town that was attacked, have responded angrily to the government not protecting them.
Reportage here:
- Sudan city stormed by Darfur rebels, Al Jazeera, 24 April 2013,
- Sudan rebels attack city, push closer to capital, Reuters, 27 April 2013 ,
- Sudan rebels widen offensive, Perth Now/AAP, 28 April 2013,
- Sudanese protesters stone government convoy after rebel attack, Reuters, 28 April 2013.
Latest UN News on Violence and Humanitarian Need in Darfur
UN Photo/David Manyua
The UN News Centre reports on the following developments in the region:
- UN calls for humanitarian access to civilians protected by peacekeepers, 16 April 2013: UN officials in Sudan have called for immediate humanitarian access to areas of southern Darfur where tens of thousands of civilians have gathered for safety near UNAMID peacekeeping bases but where ongoing fighting prevents relief teams from reaching them.
- Head of joint UN-African mission renews call for humanitarian access, 18 April 2013: the head of UNAMID has urged the Sudanese government to ensure humanitarian access to two villages in East Darfur, where thousands of civilians require assistance.
- UN condemns deadly attack on peacekeepers protecting civilians in Muhajeria, 19 April 2013: the UN Secretary-General and UNAMID are calling on Sudanese authorities to find attackers who killed one peacekeeper and injured two others, in what is considered a war crime under international law.
- ‘No military solution’ to ongoing Darfur crisis, UN peacekeeping chief tells Security Council, 29 April 2013: With the recent deadly violence and security restrictions hindering the efforts of peacekeepers in Darfur, the United Nations peacekeeping chief today urged the international community to press what he referrred to as the "belligerent parties" to reach a political settlement.
Fresh tribal clashes in Darfur trigger largest influx of refugees into Chad in years, UN says
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
UN News Centre, 12 April 2013
The UN News Centre reports that 50,000 people have fled Darfur for Chad in the wake of fresh tribal conflicts, the largest influx of refugees into Chad since 2005.
After 10 years of horror in Darfur, politicians around the world call for action on Sudan
28 February 2013
A decade on from the start of the mass atrocities in Darfur, a coalition 98 of politicians from the United Kingdom, United States and Australia has called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.
The global coalition has signed an open letter to their respective Foreign Secretaries urging them to lead the UN Security Council to action on Sudan at this pivotal moment.
DAN coordinated the Australian campaign, with 16 Member of Parliament, including Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney, signing the open letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Bob Carr.
Australian signatory Michelle Rowland MP said:
“UN Security Council Resolution 2046 warned the parties to this conflict of consequences if they did not uphold their obligations and stop the fighting. The African Union has been very clear on the urgent need to address this conflict. We are calling on our respective governments to lead the UN to back up its words with actions.”
For more on the global campaign, see Baroness Glenys Kinnock and Representative Michael E Capuano, A decade on, Sudan threatens to repeat the tragedy of Darfur, The Guardian, 10 March 2013 (members of the UK and USA Parliaments explain why they signed the open letter).
DAN in the News
Destiny of Sudan's Bashir lies with ICC
The Australian, 7 May 2012
Following the International Criminal Court's conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity, DAN Director Luse Kinivuwai writes that the conviction gives hope to the Darfur community in Australia.
Read the full opinion editorial here.
See the reaction of the Darfur community in Australia to the conviction here.
Why Libya and not Darfur? It's time the UN stepped in
The Australian, 16 May 2011
Former DAN President Sherona Parkinson writes that Darfur is in as much need as Libya of interntional assistance but it is not being provided. Parkinson says, "It is important that we do not forget the people of Darfur, but use our ability to empathise to push for human rights to be respected and protected".
Read the full opinion editorial here.
Creative Writing
We are pleased to share this creative piece by Yahya Arko. Yahya is a Board member of DAN and constantly strives to raise awareness on the ongoing conflict in Darfur.
You can own your own personal space
You can keep yourself in the house
You can go outside without limitation
You can visit ex-friends
You can meet new friends
You can follow no religion
You can be a religious person
You can choose to be a liberal
You can choose to be a conservative
You can stop there
You can reverse back
You can stay in middle
You got to give people a way when it is applicable
You have to know that other people have a right to do so
Then freedom of all will be safe.
By Yahya Arko
DAN Annual Report
The DAN 2011-2012 Annual Report is now available.
Please email us at contact@darfuraustralia.org.au to receive an electronic copy.