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Global Day for Darfur Canadian Unity Statement:
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I. Security
- Strengthen the African Union peacekeeping force in the near
term
The African Union (AU) forces in Darfur are under-funded, undermanned, and need significant help now. The AU simply does not have the capacity to end the violence and protect the people of Darfur, but until a stronger UN force can be deployed, they are the only game in town. Canada must lead the international community to offer the AU immediate financial support or more civilians will die as a result.
- Transition to a stronger UN peacekeeping force as soon as
possible
The United Nations has been slowly progressing towards a peacekeeping force for Darfur for many months now. The people of Darfur – especially women and girls who are victim of intense sexual and gender-based violence - cannot be made to wait any longer. The UN Security Council has passed resolution 1706 authorizing a UN peacekeeping force for Darfur with a mandate to protect civilians. Canada must use all its diplomatic clout to insure this force is deployed as soon as possible.
II. Humanitarian Aid
- Increased aid levels
Earlier this year, food rations in Darfur were cut in half due to lack of funding. They have since been raised to 2/3 of the UN’s minimum daily level, but shortfalls continue to mean that men, women, and children are going hungry. Canada and the international community need to make sure that the humanitarian aid life support system that has kept millions of civilians alive in Darfur does not break down due to lack of resources.
- Humanitarian access
Food and medicine alone cannot save lives if they don’t get to the people who need them. Canada must work with the international community to maintain diplomatic pressure to ensure that humanitarian organizations retain unfettered access to all who need their help.
III. Peace Process
- Implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement
The signing on May 5 of the Darfur Peace Agreement was a step towards peace, but by no means a final one. For the agreement to become more than just another failed ceasefire, it is imperative that strong and sustained international pressure be brought to bear in order to ensure that;- all parties to the agreement, and in particular the Khartoum government, live up to their responsibilities, including the verified disarming of the Janjaweed militias; and that
- all who hinder the peace process through violent action are held accountable for their actions; and that
- the Darfurian people are brought fully into an inclusive Darfur-Darfur dialogue to continue the ongoing peace process.
In order to ensure that the required pressure is maintained, Secretary General Annan should immediately appoint a UN Special Envoy for Darfur to compel implementation, and if necessary strengthening, of the agreement.
Amnesty International
Armenian National Committee of Canada
B'nai Brith Canada
Canadian Auto Workers
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
Canadian Council for International Co-operation
Canadian Council for Reform Judaism
Canadian Friends of Sudan
Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Labor Congress
Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief
Canadian Students for Darfur
Canadians Against Slavery and Torture in Sudan (CASTS)
Canadians for Aid in Southern Sudan
Darfur Association of Canada
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Freedom Quest- Calgary
Hillel Toronto
Holocaust Centre of Toronto
Human Rights Watch
Journalists for Human Rights
KAIROS
Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
Muslim Canadian Congress
Muslim Canadian Union
National Association of Seadogs Canada
North South Institute
Primate's World Relief and Development Plan (Anglican Church of
Canada)
Project Equity
Project Ploughshares
Rassemblement pour le Darfour / Rally For Darfur – Montreal
Redemptorists of the Edmonton-Toronto Province.
Save Darfur Canada
Save Women – Sudan
SHOUT (Students Helping Others Understand Tolerance)
Sikhs Against Genocide
Somali Canadian National Council
South Asians of Ontario
STAND Canada
Sudanese Canadian Human Rights Organization
TRIP (Toronto Residence in Partnership)
United Church of Canada
United Nations Association in Canada
Ve’ahavta
Vietnamese Association of North York
War Child Canada
World Federalist Movement – Canada
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