About the Campaign

On September 21st, 2004, President George W. Bush declared that “the world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government has concluded are genocide.” After his historical remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, the President pledged to do everything in his power to ensure that genocide would not be perpetuated on his watch. Yet, over three years after this declaration, genocide continues in Darfur. The President has not fulfilled this promise.

As students, we have taken significant action to end the genocide in Darfur. We have played a significant role in encouraging Congress to make ending the genocide a priority, resulting in numerous robust bills being passed into law. We have divested over 20 states and over 50 universities from foreign companies facilitating the genocide. We have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid and civilian protection. We have made ending the genocide in Sudan a priority for our elected officials. And now, we are ready to take the next steps to make this the year to end genocide.

The Bush Administration has committed a great deal of time and energy to ending violent conflict in Sudan. The US played a key role in negotiating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, ending a two decade long civil war between Southern Sudan and the Government of Sudan, and provides hundreds of millions of dollars to humanitarian relief in the Darfur region. Despite these efforts, the situation in Sudan has regressed over the course of the past year. In his last year in office, President Bush can, and must, make ending the atrocities in Sudan a much higher priority.

STAND has outlined the four-part policy framework President Bush must follow in order to end the genocide and help bring peace to Sudan: (1) Stick to his promises; (2) Enforce UNAMID (3) All-Sudan Solution, and (4) Lobby China, or S.E.A.L.

Students recognize that our efforts, while admirable, are not successful unless change occurs on the ground in Sudan. The same is true of the President’s efforts. If in the next year significant progress is not made to end the genocide and secure peace, all of the President’s strong words and encouraging actions will be forgotten. All that will be remembered is that genocide took place on his watch. This challenge for the President also presents a great opportunity. It is a unique chance to reverse America’s historical pattern of inaction in the face of genocide and carve out a legacy of strong action to end the world’s worst crime and bring peace to Sudan.

The anti-genocide generation of students will work over the coming months to make President Bush seize this unique opportunity. We wills settle for nothing less than a legacy of peace in Sudan.

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