Urge your Senators to support Senate Resolution 404 for a peaceful and stable Sudan
Take Action Now! Contact your Senators now and urge them to co-sponsor the bipartisan Senate Resolution 404 that supports full implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement and efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.
Why is action important now? The volatile situation in Sudan – not just in the Darfur region, but also the tenuous peace between the North and South brought about by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – is becoming more serious. The country is bracing for national elections in April 2010 and a referendum on whether the South should secede from the North in January 2011. The potential for increased violence, death, and displacement at the hands of a renewed North-South war is real. Therefore, significant steps must be taken to avert such a disaster.
What does S. Res. 404 do? Senators Feingold (D-WI), Brownback (R-KS), and Wicker (R-MS) among others recently introduced S. Res. 404 that signals the United States’ strong commitment to prevent increased violence and promote peace and stability in all of Sudan. The resolution specifically calls on President Obama to strengthen engagement on this issue and on the international community to coordinate their efforts closely. It urges the responsible actors in Sudan to comply with the provisions of the CPA, resolve outstanding issues, and avoid actions that escalate tensions.
What is the Church’s position? The Catholic bishops of Sudan have raised serious concerns about the situation in their country. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) share their concerns regarding the potential for increased violence and are taking action to avert conflict, assist people in need and promote reconciliation. Therefore, we support S. Res. 404 and thank co-sponsoring Senators for their support. We ask that all Senators, especially members of the Foreign Relations Committee, also co-sponsor this important resolution.
What does the situation in Sudan have to do with my Catholic faith? Our Catholic faith calls on us to uphold the life and dignity of all human life and to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters everywhere. Conflict in Sudan has already cost millions of lives, displaced millions more, and deepened widespread poverty. As Catholics, we must take action to prevent violence and save lives as well as assist our neighbors in need.
How is the Catholic Church promoting peace and stability in Sudan? CRS has worked in Sudan since 1972 and is currently active in Darfur, South Sudan and in the capital, Khartoum. Working in partnership with the Catholic Church in Sudan and with affected communities, our focus in Darfur is to provide humanitarian assistance such as food and essential household items as well as establishment of shelters for people displaced by the violence. We also promote development assistance through education, agriculture, water and sanitation and health care initiatives and support peace efforts that strengthen civil society and civic education.
The USCCB has been working closely with the Catholic Church in Sudan, with delegations repeatedly visiting the country, including Darfur, and playing an active role in the U.S. policy debate.
For more information, contact:
Stephen Hilbert, Policy Adviser for Africa/Foreign Aid, International Justice and Peace, USCCB; 202-541-3149, shilbert@usccb.org
Tina Rodousakis, CRS Grassroots Advocacy Manager: 410-951-7462, trodousa@crs.org
