Genocide Continues in Darfur
Since early 2003, over 400,000 civilians have died and well over 2.5 million have been driven from their homes in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. Over 500 people die each day from violence, malnutrition and disease. The victims are mostly from the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masaalit groups, considered to be “Africans;” the attacks are largely by a government-supported “Arab” militia, known as the “Janjaweed.” The Khartoum-based government fuels ethnic and racial violence by using Janjaweed militias as its proxies against Darfur insurgents. But it is the civilians who are suffering – pitting ethnic groups against each other; restricting international humanitarian access, which threatens mass starvation; bombing civilian targets with aircraft; and murdering and raping civilians. Ongoing estimates suggest that if aid is denied or unavailable, as many as a million people could perish.
UPDATE
In May 2007, the White House announced the long-awaited implementation of U.S. Plan B sanctions against Sudan, designed to help compel the government in Khartoum to bring an end to the violence. Plan B contains three measures intended to change the calculations of the regime in Khartoum and unyielding rebel leaders:
- The U.S. will add 31 Sudanese companies to a list of 130 that are already denied access to the U.S. financial system
- The U.S. will freeze the assets of three of the many individuals responsible for the violence in Darfur.
- Finally, the U.S. will seek a resolution in the United Nations Security Council to impose target sanctions on individuals and expand an ineffective arms embargo that continues to be violated without consequence.
LEARN MORE
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
BECOME ONE OF THE MILLION VOICES FOR DARFUR
Genocide Watch in Chechnya
A six year long conflict in Chechnya continues. Although large-scale fighting has ended in the area, the threat of Russian military force in the area persists.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION IN CHECHNYA
Northwestern University Students Join Forces against Holocaust Denial
Northwestern University students formed the Never Again Campaign as a response to continuing Holocaust denial by Arthur Butz, Northwestern Associate Professor of Engineering. The campaign pledges to "increase Holocaust education, promote global tolerance, and stop genocides that are occurring today around the world."
The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center applauds this effort to increase awareness of the Holocaust denial emanating from the Northwestern campus and further provide Holocaust and genocide education, promoting global understanding across their campus and other universities.
Learn more about their campaign and sign their petition
Read the full endorsement by Richard Hirschhaut, IHMEC Project and Executive Director
Read a reaction letter by Northwestern Alumna, Lillian Gerstner, HMFI Site Director
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