What
is the most important human rights issue we face today and how
would you go about resolving it?
Genocide is defined as the systematic and planned
extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or
ethnic group. After millions were killed and tortured during the
Holocaust the world made a promise: “Never again.” This was a
promise that world leaders have failed to keep. We need to put
words into action or eventually there will be no one left. Many
genocides have taken place since the Holocaust: Cambodia,
Bosnia, Rwanda, and the horror continues in Sudan today. The
genocide in Darfur is the first genocide of the 21st century and
currently, the world’s most important human rights issue. As
citizens of the world, it is our mission, our moral
responsibility, to help put an end to genocide once and for all.
Darfur is a region about the size of Texas in Western Sudan and
is home to many different ethnic groups. In 2003 a Darfur rebel
group attacked a government base hoping to gain control and
representation. The government responded by setting out to
eliminate any ethnic group, to which the rebels were linked,
mainly the three main non-Arab tribes: The Massalit, the Fur,
and the Zaghawa. Now, in their 6th year, the Janjaweed Militia
and the Sudanese Government have been raping, killing, and
torturing millions of innocent Darfurians. Over 400,000 have
been killed and nearly 2.5 million displaced. 5,000 people
continue to die every month. The Janjaweed militia and Sudanese
government continue to go into the Darfur Villages. Typically,
they loot and burn the village, kill the men and rape the women.
Then, the women are forced to walk dangerous miles of desert
with their children to wherever the nearest refugee camp is.
Once they arrive at the camp they are not completely safe
either. Refugee camps are over-crowded, disease ridden, and
still vulnerable to attack. There is also a lack of food and
water. The women in the camps have to make the lose-lose
decision of going into unsafe territory for firewood or well
water, or having their families starve to death. As the hours go
on lives are being taken. The world can turn its back on Darfur
no longer.
Many efforts have been made on behalf of the victims of genocide
in Darfur. There have been countless rallies, organizations
(such as STAND, Save Darfur, The Enough Project, etc.)
established, and books written, yet world leaders have
procrastinated on this huge human rights violation. Recently,
the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant
for Sudanese President, Omar Al Bashir. This is a huge step
forward, but at the same time, a step backward. Bashir got angry
and expelled thirteen humanitarian aid operations that provided
relief and medical attention to the victims on the grounds in
Darfur. Diseases like meningitis are now spreading rapidly
through the camps and malnutrition is a bigger concern then
ever. Bashir’s trial is still in the process. McGovern, a
representative and Darfur Activist said “President Bashir has a
choice. He can choose to let the humanitarian groups return; he
can choose to end the violence and the killing; and he can
choose serious negotiations for a just and lasting peace. Or he
can continue to commit crimes against humanity — crimes with
which he is already charged — and charges that will one day
catch up with him and bring him down.” Later that day, McGovern
was arrested for civil disobedience at a protest in front of the
Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.
I am a president of the STAND (the student led division of the
genocide intervention network) chapter of Mamaroneck High
School. I took on this role because I want to educate people on
present day genocides, conflicts, and human rights issues and
help the victims. In January I attended a STAND conference in
Washington, D.C where I collaborated with members of other STAND
chapters and learned a lot about the situation in Darfur, the
Congo, and Burma. I listened to guest speakers like John
Prendergast who is a strong activist and founder of the Enough
Project. He was extremely inspiring and I went home and read his
book, “Not on Our Watch.” I learned even more but there is an
endless amount to learn on such serious issues. Every year my
STAND chapter hosts the “Jam for Sudan.” It is an outdoor
concert which raises money for the International Medical Corps
who provide refuge and aid on the grounds in Darfur and other
conflicted areas. In addition I have attended Save Darfur
rallies, helped plan a fundraiser where nearly $100,000 dollars
was raised, and continue to educate and aware people every
chance I get. People won’t do anything unless they are aware and
when everyone comes together… that is when something will get
done.
A lot of people think that just because this genocide is
occurring half way across the world, it won’t affect us and
therefore doesn’t matter. These people are extremely wrong. What
if the next genocide happens in America? Then could we count on
the nations we didn’t help while genocide was happening in their
country? No. America does provide aid and send provisions, but
clearly this is not enough. We need to set a good example for
other world powers by sending in large peace keeping forces to
Darfur. If a joint effort is made by the world powers, any fight
can be won, and any fire extinguished.
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