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Speak out to the President

February 09, 2010

Subject:
It is essential that President Obama work with Members of Congress and with the international community to bring an end to the ongoing violence. Use the letter below to demand that the future president make ending genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Eastern Congo and around the world a priority.

Dear President Obama:

I urge you to take immediate action to end atrocities in Darfur and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  I am encouraged by your leadership in the Senate to help resolve these conflicts and I hope your administration will take decisive action to prevent and end crimes against humanity and genocide wherever they occur.  

While there is no magic formula to end genocide and crimes against humanity, I believe there is a strategic one.  We can stop genocide and crimes against humanity where they are already happening, and prevent these crimes from happening in the future, through a framework called the "Three Ps": promoting peace, protecting civilians, and punishing the perpetrators.   

Promote peace through aggressive multilateral diplomacy:
• In Sudan, appoint a senior envoy for Sudan who will support UN/AU led mediation efforts in Darfur and push for full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for southern Sudan. 
• In DRC appoint a senior envoy for the Great Lakes region who will support political negotiations to end the insurgency led by Laurent Nkunda, remove Rwandan and Ugandan rebels from eastern Congo, and achieve a lasting détente between the governments in the region. 

Protect civilians through more effective peacekeeping:
• In Sudan, support full deployment of an effective peacekeeping force in Darfur.
• In DRC, support the swift deployment of 3,000 additional peacekeepers to buttress the existing UN force. 

Punish perpetrators of crimes against humanity through strong accountability measures:
• In Sudan, veto any steps toward invoking Article 16 at the Security Council and provide the ICC with any evidence it has regarding Sudan’s direct involvement in planning the Darfur genocide. 
• In Congo, call for the ICC to accelerate its investigation in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and provide evidence to support indictments, and support efforts to build a strong, independent Congolese judiciary.  

These specific actions will put pressure on the perpetrators, protect the people, support a robust investment in peace processes, promote the sustained commitment of diplomatic and financial resources and help to prevent further occurrences of violence in these countries and the surrounding regions. These steps are a small price to pay for justice, peace and dignity for people who have seen their lives destroyed.  We must act swiftly and responsibly to end the continual violence and suffering in these nations.  I strongly urge you to take these actions.

Respectfully,

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ENOUGH -- a project to end genocide and crimes against humanity
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