Congressional Action: Next Steps on Darfur

Photo by Physicians for Human Rights

What Now?

What can your member of Congress do now to help stop genocide?

Now that your members of Congress have been graded on their efforts to stop genocide, we need them to take action. Contact your representatives and senators to let them know you have seen their grade on Darfur, and you expect them to do more.

Immediate Action

Updated: May 12, 2008

Appropriations: Funding for Peacekeepers

The 2008 Budget left a shortfall of $334 million in funding for Darfur peacekeeping this year. Full funding is necessary to ensure the success of the peacekeeping mission.

Call 1-800-GENOCIDE: Urge your members of Congress to support an additional $334 million for peacekeeping in Darfur.

Recently Passed Legislation

The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act

On December 31, 2007 President Bush signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act into law. This action followed the unanimous passage of the bill in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Championed by Senator Dodd (D-CT), Senate Shelby (R-AL), Congressman Frank (D-MA) and Congresswoman Lee (D-CA), this bill increases economic pressure on the government of Sudan to help end the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

The bill:
* Protects states that divest;
* Prohibits U.S. government contracts with companies fueling the genocide; and
* Authorizes states to prohibit contracts with companies fueling the genocide.

Unfortunately, the Administrative rule responsible for implementing the provision which would deny U.S. government contracts to foreign companies fueling the genocide was issued over a month late. Despite the April 29th deadline the rule came into effect on June 12, 2008. However, the administrative ruling on the provision was done successfully and in accordance with SADA. Now, the President is responsible for ensuring that the implemented provision is fully enforced.

Download GI-Net's one-pager on SADA implementation.

For more information on targeted Sudan divestment visit the Sudan Divestment Task Force, a project of the Genocide Intervention Network.

Senate Resolution 470: Calling for a Comprehensive Regional Strategy for Chad, CAR and Darfur

On March 4, 2008 Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) introduced Senate Resolution 455 calling on the international community and regional actors to commit to achieving an effective resolution to the national and regional conflicts in Chad, the Central African Republic, and Darfur, Sudan.

Passed unanimously on April 14, 2008.

House Resolution 1011: Calling for a Comprehensive Regional Strategy for Chad, CAR and Darfur

On February 28, 2008 Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) introduced House Resolution 1011, "calling on the United States Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, as well as in the wider region that includes the northern region of the Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan".

Passed unanimously on May 5, 2008.