New Data Bases

1. College Libraries Human Rights Violations in Darfur, Sudan: A Country that Needs our Help By: Jennifer Marschke Can Americans be stirred if they see the consequences of their complacency? New Data Bases Low level conflict between nomadic and agriculturists groups based on the competition for resources has been going on for years in the Darfur region in Sudan. This photo displays a young child taking some water, emaciated and starved in a refugee camp. Because of insecurities and difficulties, it is hard for food to reach all of the people in camps. Most families say that they ran out of food a week ago, surviving since, by sharing rations “intended to save just the weakest infants.” Out in the communities in Darfur, it has been estimated that there are 40 deaths a week, “that we know of.” The displaced refugees are all black Sudanese forced from their villages by the Janjaweed militias. Complaining about their economic marginalization and the lack of protection for the farming population, two armed groups began fighting the government security forces in February 2003. The government of Sudan exploited tensions and began to back largely Arabic, Nomadic attacks on villages of largely African, sedentary farmers. In this photo, a child is suffering from lesions due to burns from bombs discharged by the Janjaweed. Disease has also become a developing problem. Many children in the camps already have diarrhea, vomiting, and measles. Void Delete before Printing Portrayed in this photo, is a young girl that was attacked and branded on her arm. Thousands of women are suffering abuse from rape and other violent mistreatment in Darfur, that are perpetrated by the Janjaweed militia using this sexual abuse as a weapon of war. People from sedentary groups formed the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), in protest of what was perceived as the “failure of the Sudanese government security forces to protect them from the Nomadic groups.” By March of 2003, the Sudanese government decided to solve the revolt by using force. The government gave free reign to the nomadic militias known as the Janjaweed, to attack, burn, and loot villages in rural areas, while massacring the civilians. Women who have been raped are stigmatized within the society. “A women who has been raped is like a piece of spoiled meat,” said one man, Who would have her?” There should not be a question of why? Darfur has been described as “one of the worst humanitarian crises in the current world.” After seeing the damage done, when would you presume it is time for the United Nations or the United States to take a stand and do something in Sudan? The “ethnic cleansing” has been happening for over two years and the US and UN have imposed sanctions, while the Sudanese government has pledged to disarm the militias, but more needs to be done! Amnesty International USA has compiled recommendations for the deployment of a United Nations Peace Support Operation in the areas of Sudan inc: • A strong Human Rights component. • Gender Issues and the protection of women and children. • Addressing impunity. • A strong and unambiguous mandate and sufficient means to protect civilians. • Safe and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced people. • Arms control and collection. The conflict in Darfur “has led to some of the most severe human rights abuses conceivable, including wide-scale murders, genocide, rape, abduction, forced displacement, and torture,” that some sources have described as an “ethnic cleansing.” The United Nations agrees deeming the Darfur conflict, “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” – Wikipedia Encyclopedia The recent British Parliamentary Report estimates 300,000 deaths since the start, and the UN estimates 180,000 deaths in the past eighteen months. More than 1.8 million people have also been displaced form their homes. For more information or to view the power point presentation please visit: http://www2.potsdam.edu/contemporaryabolitionists/projects.html