Human Rights Advocacy
A proposal for lasting peace in Darfur
HRF (Human Rights First) believes that an effective response to the crisis in Darfur requires a three-pronged approach: a political and diplomatic process to secure a peace agreement; forces to protect the civilian population; and humanitarian assistance. With increasing international and U.S. attention to the need for forces and humanitarian assistance, Human Rights First is deeply concerned that not enough attention is being paid to the need for an enhanced political and diplomatic peace process. Efforts to secure a peace settlement in Darfur must go beyond the African Union-mediated talks in Abuja, Nigeria. One way to achieve such a process is through the appointment by the United Nations of a senior envoy of the highest international stature. Human Rights First urges the Secretary-General to appoint such an envoy immediately.
Our proposal for a senior envoy is based on three underlying assumptions:
(1) There is an immediate need to initiate an All Darfur Peace Dialogue to establish meaningful negotiation among all of the parties to the conflict in Darfur.
These negotiations should include not only the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements but also the militias who are supporting the Government's position and the array of ethnic and tribal groups who oppose the Government's actions, but have not formed armed militias. These negotiations must also include representatives of the more than two million internally displaced people and Darfur refugees in Chad. A senior international envoy can play a key leadership role in ensuring that the negotiations are a process in which there is fair and appropriate representation of all parties.
(2) There is a need for much greater pressure on regional governments as well as powerful governments in the world to exercise the political will to address the conflict.
The current challenge to get the A.U. to support timely referral of peacekeeping troops to the U.N. is a good example of the type of issue in which a senior envoy, with strong international support, could play a useful role. In our view, these sorts of diplomatic roadblocks continue to undermine the peace process, and are not being adequately addressed by the current structure.
(3) Despite the enormity of the problem and the staggering loss of life, there is still far too little public attention to Darfur.
In the coming months it will be more important to generate greater public attention to Darfur in countries like the United States and the nations of the European Union. The U.N. will need some of these countries to contribute significantly more funds, logistical support and in some cases military support if a lasting peace is to be achieved. Sadly, Darfur has not received the attention it deserves, and thus the political imperative is not there to force national political leaders to respond in ways that are commensurate with the need. In our view, the appointment of a very high profile envoy would also help address this need.
Human Rights First believes that history has demonstrated the envoy strategy works. Former U.N. Ambassador John Danforth played a crucial role in brokering an end to the north-south conflict in Sudan and former Senator George Mitchell played a highly constructive role in Northern Ireland. A similarly respected envoy could rally the international community, keep pressure on the parties to the conflict, especially the Sudanese government, and keep the media spotlight on Darfur. Human Rights First urges the appointment of a U.N. senior envoy immediately.
Source: Human rights first.
