This opportunity encompasses the chance to begin to comprehend the tragedy of the Rwandan genocide and to be inspired towards advocating towards peace, especially within post-conflict regions.

If you are passionate about genocide prevention, we highly encourage you look into this opportunity, to gain a practical education on the development of post conflict regions and understanding the stages leading towards a genocide. The program includes learning about Rwandan genocide in 1994; visiting memorials, meeting the survivors, volunteering with their social programs and engaging in activities to confront the legacy of the genocide and understand what we can do to help prevent it occurring again. The program also includes trips to the different sites and memorials in rural Rwanda, as well as a safari and a brief holiday on the shores of Rwanda’s 5th largest lake, the Lake Kivu. Much time is spent with local NGO’s in and around Rwanda, and participants will have the chance to network and learn from those they wish to emulate.

 The program begins on 9th July until 1st August and the cost is $2,080 CAD, excluding flights. The program runs on an annual basis so please feel free to inquire about future trips. If you have any specific questions, please contact the Program Coordinator, Richard Newell at Richard.newell@aegisstudents.org  For more information about the trip please see the attached brochure. You can also follow Aegis Trust on facebook , twitter, and check out the Discover Rwanda Blog for more information.

As STAND members, this trip provides a practical hands-on way for you to become involved in the building of Rwanda’s future. It will equip, train and inspire you to help us end genocide.

–
Monica Chakravarty is Principal Director of STAND Canada.

The event will feature special addresses from Martha Hall Findlay, Tarek Fatah and others.

To find out more and to register, please visit http://willtointerveneday.eventbrite.com/

The event will take place in the quadrangle at Trinity College (University of Toronto), 6 Hoskin Avenue, Toronto, from 2p.m. to 4p.m. on 10 May, followed by a reception with light refreshments. If the weather is uncooperative, the event will take place in Seeley Hall, Trinity College.

The most recent clash has been over the town of Heglig, an oil-rich region and an important source of revenue for both nations. Sudanese forces regained control over the region last week as South Sudan ordered SPLM-N troops to withdraw.

The Sudanese Air Force (SAF) has bombed at least 3 locations in South Sudan. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir stated that Sudan’s “dialogue with these people will be through the gun because they only understand the language of the gun.”

Join us as we encourage the Canadian government to condemn the violence against South Sudan and pressure both nations to end hostilities and resume negotiations on issues still outstanding from South Sudanese secession. Please tell Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird that you are concerned about these acts of war against South Sudan. We, as Canadians, have an obligation to raise our voices in an effort to prevent a war between the two Sudans.

An email template is available below.

–
Email to:  bairdj@parl.gc.ca
Suggested Subject Line: Prevent War in the Sudans

Dear Mr. Baird,

The Sudanese Air Force has bombed several villages in South Sudan and President al-Bashir has stated that Sudan’s “dialogue with these people will be through the gun because they only understand the language of the gun.”

I am writing because I am concerned about the increasing likelihood of war between the two nations. Canada should use its position as a global leader to not only strongly condemn the violence, but also pressure both nations to end hostilities and resume negotiations on outstanding issues from South Sudanese secession. Canada needs to work with international partners to amplify its pressure. We have an obligation to use our influence in the international community to prevent a war between the Sudans.

Thank you,

Sincerely,
Name
Postal Code

Last week, Amnesty International launched a human rights mission to Sudan. Amnesty International Canada’s Secretary-General, Alex Neve, is travelling to South Sudan to join an important human rights research mission to document such human rights abuses.  This mission will be investigating attacks on villages and the aerial bombings of the tens of thousands of civilians that have been occurring in Sudan’s border regions since the Summer of 2011 and inside South Sudan.

We applaud Amnesty International for taking initiative and implementing this fact-finding mission and we urge our supporters to follow Alex Neve and Amnesty International as they travel to Sudan to collect this critical information.  You can watch their video online HERE.  For more information about STAND’s policy recommendations please read our monthly STAND Digest.
—
Laurie Drake is Deputy Principal Director of STAND Canada.

The EICC-GeSI Conflict-Free Smelter Assessment Program does just this. The Program is being developed by the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI). The voluntary program acts as an independent third party investigator, tracing the sources of smelters and refineries. The assessment is made be a third party and the Conflict-Free Smelter Audit Review Committee then reviews the findings to decide whether the smelter/refinery has met Conflict-Free Smelter assessment protocol.

Conflict-free does not mean a boycott on minerals sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Sourcing minerals is intended to prevent the indirect funding of the violence in the Congo but still provide revenue for those who rely on mining for their livelihoods. Boycotting Congo minerals altogether only hurts the DRC economy and, more importantly the civilians.

By demanding conflict free products, we are raising our voices as consumers and saying that we do not want to enable rape and murder.  We’re calling for conflict free products and ethical sourcing procedures that do not threaten the livelihood of innocent civilians. That’s why, as we campaign for ethical sourcing, we need to remember that the DRC already has conflict-free minerals.

–

Navdeep Johal is Campaign Director of STAND Canada.

Sources:
Globe and Mail. “Ending trade in conflict minerals trickier than it sounds: analysts.” Accessed April 3, 2012.

The EICC-GeSI Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS) Assessment Program. Accessed April 3, 2012.

Analyst: Sudan and South Sudan Engaged in Unofficial War
Violence between Sudan and South Sudan surged this week when both countries attempted to assert control over the Heglig oilfield, cancelling plans for a summit between these countries’ respective presidents, Omar al Bashir and Slava Kiir. On Thursday, South Sudan accused its northern neighbour of aerial bombing the South Sudanese town of Bentiu. With both countries accusing each other of initiating the current level of violence, which has been at its highest since South Sudan gained independence last year, each side is also vying to defend itself. Magdi El Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift Valley Institute in Kenya, has likened the situation to a smaller version of previous civil warfare between these two regions, maintaining that Sudan and South Sudan are “effectively . . . at war.” On Wednesday, the United Nations officially requested “an immediate de-escalation of the situation… to avoid further bloodshed.”

Sudan Accuses US of Waging “Stealth War”
This week, Sudanese parliamentary speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir accused the United States of waging a “stealth war” against Sudan. The accusations surround 15-year-old American economic sanctions against Sudan, which recently contributed to the postponing of the inauguration of a $1 billion sugar plant in White Nile State, as well as American pressuring of Khartoum to allow the international community to provide aid to Sudanese civilians living in war-torn South Kordofan and Blue Nile. He argued that the United States is prohibiting Sudan from progressing as a country and maintained that the Sudanese people would choose food deprivation over loss of dignity.

Sudan Arming Civilians Against Rebels
Civilians in Talodi town claimed to have been provided with guns supplied by Khartoum to aid in fighting against Sudanese rebel groups along the Sudan-South Sudan border. Such civilian soldiers have been suspected by a human rights organization to be committing human rights abuses. This news comes amid speculation that South Sudan is similarly arming its civilians in the event of war and that the rate of South Kordofan refugees entering South Sudan has recently increased 8-fold.

DRC

Kabila Calls for Former Rebel Leader’s ICC Arrest
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila recently advocated for the arrest of former rebel leader, Bosco Ntaganda, for whom the International Crime Court issued an arrest warrant five years ago for recruitment child soldiers, rape, and murder. Ntaganda, whose current location is unknown, is believed to have as many as 600 defectors with him; any attempt to arrest him will inevitably cause considerable conflict, according to BBC analyst Martin Plaut.

Kabila Suspends Main Military Operation in East Congo
In response to hundreds of recent desertions within the Congolese army, Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has halted military operation Amani Leo in eastern North and South Kivu. Though Amani Leo has been relatively successful in its focus on pursuing members of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, many civilians have suffered human rights abuses in association with the operation. A representative for Kabila stated that the decision was meant to keep the well-being of the public in mind; meanwhile, Amani Leo will be re-strategized.

Download the pdf here.

Most recently, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to withdraw military troops from towns on Tuesday, April 10. Although he has assured the United Nations that government forces will adhere to the deadline, the international community remains skeptical and rebels are claiming this is a trick to consolidate gains.

Mr. Assad and his regime have failed to honour commitments to peace in the past. His agreement to withdraw military troops from towns is subject to a clause: permission to respond to “attacks” on government troops. Based on past behaviour, this is a clause he will likely employ by responding to the smallest of anti-government incidents (such as protests) or by even fabricating false reports of violence against the military.

Will Canada be ready to defend the rights of the Syrian people if Mr. Assad’s regime resumes the violence? Join us as we stand with Syrian citizens in support of democracy and freedom. Our government must play a role in ending these crimes against humanity and bring President al-Assad to justice. Please tell Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird that you are concerned about the plight of the Syrian people and that you think our government needs to become a more active participant to help stop the violence.

You can learn more about the conflict in Syria here.

—
Fai Hassan is a Director on the STAND Canada team.

On March 16, The Enough Project and United Against Genocide joined for the National Day of Action for Sudan. Protestors gathered outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. calling for immediate humanitarian relief to the Nuba People. They also demanded that the Sudanese government stop killing innocent civilians.

Although Clooney’s arrest received a lot of media attention, we should not forget what he was protesting:  the plight of the Nuba people.  The food crisis in the Nuba Mountains is reaching critical levels. The Sudanese government is using food as a weapon to kill the Nuba People. Join us in taking a stand against ethnic cleansing.

The Nuba People need immediate humanitarian relief and protection. Contact Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today and express your concern.

We need your support today.
–
Monica Chakravarty is Principal Director of STAND Canada.

George Clooney Arrested for Protesting Outside of Sudanese Embassy
American movie star George Clooney was arrested outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. today, along with his father and others, who assembled to protest against the Sudanese government’s refusal to allow humanitarian food and supplies to reach civilians living in the war-torn Blue Nile Region who are expected to face starvation without immediate assistance. Following his release a few hours later, Clooney gave his two requests– that aid be allowed into “Sudan before it becomes the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, immediately,” and for “the government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women, and children.”

Sudanese President Confirms Intentions to Not Seek Re-Election
Sudanese President Omar al Bashir, who has been in power since 1989, has reiterated his plans to turn over the presidential candidacy to another National Congress Party (NCP) member for Sudan’s 2015 federal election. This decision follows pressure from unidentified fellow members of the NCP, including the NCP’s youth sector, on Bashir to step down to facilitate reform within the party. Some NCP members have speculated, however, that the NCP, and not Bashir, will ultimately be responsible for deciding whether or not he will seek re-election.

South Sudan Governor: Tribal Attack Leaves Over 200 Dead
Last week, several Lou Nuer tribes were victims of a three-day attack launched by members of the Murle, a long-time enemy of the Lou Nuer. While the UN has yet to confirm this speculated death toll of 200, the UN estimates that more than 1,000 people were killed in the Jonglei in 2011, mostly in association with fighting between these two tribes.

South Sudan’s Army Signs Anti-Child Soldier Agreement
Though the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army of South Sudan (SPLA) committed to releasing its child soldiers in 2009, Monday marked the SPLA’s first signed agreement with the UN to do so. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, arrived in South Sudan this week and has declared hopes to meet with the Nuer and Murle tribes of the Jongeli state in order to work towards a similar understanding with these communities.

DRC

ICC Prosecutor Will Seek Maximum Sentence for Convicted Congo Warlord
The International Crime Court declared its first verdict this week in its 10 years of existence– Thomas Lubanga was found guilty of harboring child soldiers in Congo from 2002 to 2003. ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo referred to the verdict as a “victory for humanity” and disclosed that he will be recommending a sentence “close to the maximum”: 30 years or life in prison. Lubanga will be sentenced later this year. Moreno-Ocampo has also declared plans to compound the indictment of Bosco Ntaganda, a former commander of Lubanga who is wanted by the ICC for recruiting and using child soldiers, with accusations of murder and rape. Ntaganda currently remains in Congo, maintaining his position of army general.

Congo Slowing Search for Joseph Kony and Rebel Army, Says Ugandan Government
The hunt for Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army and wanted person of the International Crime Court (ICC), has been impeded by territorial restrictions imposed by the Congolese government, says Ugandan government official Fred Opolot. The UN estimates that Kony’s army has launched twenty raids in northeastern Congo is the past half-year, resulting in 10 fatalities and the displacement of 3,000 individuals. The United States has provided Uganda with military advisors to pursue Kony, whose official charges by the ICC include war crimes and crimes and several crimes against humanity– “murder, sexual slavery, and abusing children.”