Crucial Time for Peace in Darfur

Darfur peace talks are scheduled to begin this weekend in Libya, but the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Violence has escalated in recent weeks, engulfing civilians and peacekeeping forces alike.

Now is the time for world leaders to stand up and deliver on their commitments to bring an end to this crisis.

Fill out the forms below to remind President Bush and UN Secretary-General Ban to do all they can to ensure progress towards security and political reconciliation in Darfur.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

The last few weeks have witnessed dramatic events in Darfur and throughout Sudan, including an attack on AU peacekeepers, assaults on civilian targets including camps for the internally displaced, and the potential collapse of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Khartoum government and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement.  Combined, these events make clear how unpredictable and dangerous life is for the people of Darfur and indeed all of Sudan, and warn of potentially greater and more devastating conflicts to come.  These events underscore the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to protect civilians and lay the ground for a lasting peace.

As world leaders, we urge that you take all necessary steps to deploy as quickly as possible the UNAMID peacekeeping mission by:

- securing commitments for the heavy transport and other equipment, including armored helicopters, that is required for deployment and mission operations; 
 - ensuring that the United Nations has full funding for UNAMID, and that additional bilateral funding needed to ensure rapid deployment is made available; and  
 - maintaining and, if necessary, increasing international pressure on Khartoum to  facilitate UNAMID's rapid deployment.

It is also critical that you and other world leaders work together to ensure that progress is made towards a durable peace, by engaging in and supporting the peace process that will commence in Sirte, Libya on October 27th.  Specifically,

- ensure that all parties to the conflict observe an immediate ceasefire 
 - ensure that all relevant participants - including combatants and civil society leaders - are invited to and attend the upcoming peace talks in Sirte, Libya, and ensuring that they negotiate in good faith once there; 
 - create the multilateral pressure necessary to ensure that preparations for the 2009 country-wide elections proceed according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The political and military events of past weeks signal that conditions in Darfur and indeed all of Sudan are at greater risk than ever of spiraling out of control, the resulting chaos of which would surely cost countless lives.  Your swift engagement on these issues could help save civilian lives, and help keep Sudan on the path towards peace.  I urge you to make accomplishing these goals in Sudan your top priority, and look forward to your leadership in resolving this ongoing crisis.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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