MEDIA ADVISORY: FYI
fyi
U.S. Special Envoy, Sudanese Opposition Leader
To Testify on Capitol Hill
First Public Hearing Since American Policy ReleaseWASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration will testify before the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health on Thursday, December 3, 2009, about the Administration’s current progress to meet key benchmarks that will ensure lasting peace in Sudan. A representative from the principal southern Sudan party, the SPLM, is also scheduled to testify.
The hearing will be webcast by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Here’s the link to the webcast: http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/index.asp
Civil society representatives testifying will include Randy Newcomb, President and CEO of Humanity United, and John Prendergast, Co-founder of Enough, the anti-genocide project at the Center for American Progress.
The coming year represents a critical time for the people of Sudan, with countrywide elections scheduled for April 2010, and a referendum on the secession of southern Sudan in January 2011. The hearing is expected to cover the situation on the ground relating to human rights and the progress of the voter registration process for the spring elections, specifically in Darfur; the development of the needed multilateral coalition that was outlined in the U.S. Sudan policy review; U.S. benchmarks to encourage Khartoum to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and other topics.
Available for live comment immediately following hearing:
Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition
Sam Bell, Executive Director, Genocide Intervention Network
Randy Newcomb
John PrendergastWHAT: House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa:
Sudan: A Review of the Administration’s New Policy and A Situation UpdateWHO: U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Major General Scott Gration
Political party representative from SPLM
Randy Newcomb, Humanity United
John Prendergast, Enough, the anti-genocide project at the Center for American Progress.WHEN: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 10:00 am EST
WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on crises in Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. For more information, please visit www.enoughproject.org/.
Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide. Currently focused on conflicts in Sudan, Burma and Democratic Republic of Congo, among other areas of concern, Genocide Intervention Network envisions a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. The organization is building a permanent anti-genocide constituency, mobilizing the political will to prevent and stop genocide. For more information, please visit www.genocideintervention.net.
Humanity United is an independent philanthropic organization committed to building a world where mass atrocities and modern-day slavery are no longer possible. By helping to build permanent constituencies to end atrocities and slavery, supporting efforts that empower affected communities, and addressing the root causes of conflict and injustice, Humanity United seeks to help restore human dignity in places where it has been lost and to help create a lasting global peace. To learn more, visit HumanityUnited.org.
Heads Up
60 Minutes on CBS this weekend (7pm EST) will follow John Prendergast of the Enough Project to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to monitor the black market trade in ‘conflict minerals’ – mined in Congo, controlled and traded by armed groups, and used in electronics such as cell phones and mp3 players.
60 MINUTES TAKES ON CONGO’S CONFLICT MINERALS – ALL-NEW THIS SUNDAY
It’s About the Women
The world over, be it outside a Los Angeles School, or in Darfur, it’s all about the women.
Nov 10th
Tuesday, November 10, both Congress and the Administration plan to have another much-needed day for Sudan, marking the first major discussion following the release of the Administration’s Sudan policy.
Tomorrow, November 10 at 3:00 p.m. EST Sudan and anti-genocide activists are invited to the White House for a Q&A session where they will ask questions to Special Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, and Samantha Power, NSC Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs.
Watch the live broadcast of this meeting via streaming video at: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/engaging_on_sudan_strategy/
In addition, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will convene a closed-door full-committee briefing on Sudan at 10:30 a.m., and we encourage you to follow-up with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members’ offices for debriefs.
In the last three weeks since the policy review’s release, little has been announced on how the Administration plans to:
· IMPLEMENT real and immediate consequences for those who continue to attack civilians, block life-saving aid, undermine peace and obstruct justice.
· LEAD a more inclusive, robust and urgent peace process for Darfur
· BUILD an international coalition for strict implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to counter the growing violence in the South
On Monday, Nov. 9, Pledge2Protect attendees will be heading to Capitol Hill to lobby their elected officials for a comprehensive strategy on genocide prevention.
Looks like Turkey threw it’s hat in the wring with the EU via Bec Hamilton,
According to AFP, the Sudanese state media is reporting that Bashir has called Turkish President Gul to say he doesn’t have time to go to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference scheduled for tomorrow. As the Sudan Tribune tells the story, Taha told Bashir that Israeli and Greek fighter jets might intercept his plane if he went to Turkey.
Wading through all the diplo-speak, it’s pretty safe to say that Turkey threw it’s hat in with the EU it wants to become part of, instead of with Bashir. The rest of the coverage just involves face-saving, for both sides.
On a New Book
Environment and Conflict in Africa: Reflections on Darfur. (PDF) 404 PAGES.
Source UPEACE Africa prgroamme.
This volume examines climate and ecological changes in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how these relate to conflicts on the continent. Particular attention is paid to environmental and livelihood aspects of the crisis in Darfur. Conclusions are drawn regarding peace-building in areas facing resource constraints.
