Who are we?

The Darfur Australia Network (DAN) is a not-for-profit community organisation aiming to raise awareness about the continuing tragedy in the Darfur region of Sudan, assist in the resettlement of Darfuri refugees and build solidarity between the Australian people and the people of Darfur. DAN is an incorporated not-for-profit community association run by the newly arrived Darfur community in Australia and concerned volunteers.

Vision

DAN’s vision is for sustainable peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur, and the protection of those affected by the conflict, regardless of circumstance, from human rights abuse.

Mission

DAN is committed to working in partnership with the Darfur Community Association of Australia (DCAA) to advocate for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect” principle and a meaningful peace negotiation in the region. By raising awareness of the crisis in Darfur amongst the broader Australian community and media DAN seeks to advocate to the Australian Government and other international actors for responsible and appropriate responses to the crisis in Darfur.

DAN further aims to assist in the protection of Darfuri people from human rights abuse by helping to resettle refugees displaced by the conflict in Australia.  In partnership with DCAA and other community groups and service providers, DAN seeks to assist in the provision of legal, administrative and essential services, along with community support.

What are we asking for?

In order to bring about sustainable peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur, DAN advocates that the Australian Government, as a member of the international community, take responsible action to protect those affected by the conflict from human rights abuse.

DAN advocates that, in addition to humanitarian aid, the Australian government should address the Darfur crisis immediately and in the long-term through;

Immediate Action

1. Pledging logistical support and technical expertise to the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) including air assets, specialist peacekeeping personnel and financial support.

2. Calling on China and other states with strong diplomatic and economic ties with Sudan to urge the Government of National Unity;

a. To cease hostilities and actively participate in meaningful peace negotiations.
b. To cooperate in a process of mutual disarmament of all militia and rebel groups in Darfur under the supervision of UNAMID.

3. Using diplomatic and economic ties with China and Russia to ensure strict compliance with the United Nations arms embargo with Sudan.

4. Working with like minded States, especially those in Africa to address the issue of foreign resettlement in Darfur by using high level diplomacy within the UN to;

a. Ensure UNHCR monitor resettlement in the destroyed regions of Darfur and brief the Human Rights Council and General Assembly accordingly.
b. Demand the Sudanese government immediately halt supervised repopulation of villages with persons who previously did not reside in the Darfur region.
c. Ensure land tenure issues are considered in any negotiations relating to the Darfur Peace Agreement

5. Using high level diplomacy within the UN to;

a. Encourage both Sudan and Chad to comply with the terms of the Riyadh agreement and cease cross border raids.
b. Call on the Government of National Unity and UNAMID to provide space for negotiations for a unified and representative rebel position
c. Ensure a comprehensive re-negotiation of the Darfur Peace Agreement with fair representation of all affected parties.

6. Assisting and encouraging the UNHCR to resolve issues faced by Darfuri refugees, in Chad, Cairo and elsewhere, by allowing them access to the Refugee Status Determination mechanism of the UNHCR;

7. Adjusting the Offshore Humanitarian Program intake to;

a. Adequately reflect the severity of the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Darfur;
b. Account for the limited operational capacity of the UNHCR and the subsequent impact on the agency’s annual recommendation for resettlement;
c. Differentiate between the ongoing crisis in Darfur and the fragile peace in South Sudan

These responses are consistent with the Australian government’s strong support for the principle, endorsed in international law, of the Responsibility to Protect.

What do we do?

DAN focuses its energies on running awareness raising events, disseminating information through various resources and activities, liaising with the media, and working with the Darfur community to help Darfuri refugees access resettlement in Australia.

Refugee Working Group

DAN has recently begun accepting applicants for the Refugee Working Group (RWG) to help Darfuri refugees to resettle in Australia through the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) and in some relevant cases the family stream of the Migration Program.

The objectives of this project are to provide clerical, administrative and legal support to the Darfur community in Australia in proposing refugees from Darfur for the SHP, most of whom are currently in Cairo. This assistance is required due to problems with the refugee status determination and resettlement assessment processes in Cairo for Sudanese asylum seekers. This is particularly important given the tragic consequences of the three month long Sudanese protest at UNHCR Cairo which ended in December 2005 in a violent clash between protesters and Egyptian police. DAN produced a briefing paper on this tragedy in 2006.

This project is part of a formal partnership between the Darfur Community Association of Australia and DAN.