Campaigners are urging those taking part in the Global Day of Action for Darfur to call on their governments to do more to protect civilians in the troubled region of Sudan.
17th September marks the one-year anniversary of the United Nations’ pledge to provide security for civilians around the world. It is hoped the cross-global campaign will be a poignant reminder to the UN of its as yet unfulfilled responsibility and the continuing suffering in Darfur.
”From Abuja, to New York, this will be a chance for people across the globe to show that they care about Darfur,” said Jill Savitt, Campaign Director of Human Rights First, one of the organisations coordinating the events. “September 17 is going to be a day of international solidarity to bring hope to the people of Darfur.”
Just some of the cities to host events on the day are New York, Paris, Cairo, Moscow and Kigali.Events will range from small and intimate candlelight vigils to mass concerts bringing together thousands. Whatever the size, the purpose is the same, bringing citizens together to urge their governments to pressure the UN Security Council into taking immediate action to protect the people of Darfur as it promised.
Participants at the events will also wear the internationally recognised icon of UN peacekeeping forces, the “blue hats”.
“The African Union has been struggling to do its job in Darfur. The UN must deploy peacekeepers as soon as possible with a strong mandate to protect civilians” said Dismas Nkunda a spokesperson for the Darfur Consortium, a coalition of more than thirty Africa-based and Africa-focused organisations.
Dr. James Smith, Executive Director of the Aegis Trust said: “Tens of thousands of people in capital cities from around the world will be calling again for the killings to stop.
“We are indignant at Darfur’s slow death; its time for us to express our outrage.”
