Calling on the League of Arab States to Acknowledge the Genocide in Darfur

Floor Speech

CALLING ON THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 7, which calls on the League of Arab States to acknowledge the genocide in Darfur and step up its effort to stop the genocide. I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Rep. BARBARA LEE, for bringing this important resolution to the House floor.

* Since 2003, more than 400,000 people have been killed in Darfur and an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced. More than 3 million other Darfurians depend today on international aid for their survival. The United Nations has identified the situation in Darfur as the worst current humanitarian and human rights crisis in the world. The United States has officially labeled it genocide.

* As we learned last week on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the international community must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocents. When we say we must ``never forget,'' we must demonstrate that we mean it. H. Con. Res. 7, which has 115 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle, is an important step in this cause.

* This important legislation calls on the League of Arab States to support and accept United Nations peacekeepers as the best option to enforce a cease-fire, protect civilians, and ensure access for humanitarian aid workers; and to work with the international community to bring about a lasting peace in Darfur.

* I hope that the Arab League will play a constructive role in ensuring humanitarian assistance in Darfur, insisting that the Bashir government accept more peacekeeping troops, and make a stronger effort to engage Sudan's neighbors in the peace process--which is what this Resolution is designed to do. Finally, the Arab League must work with the United States and the United Nations to work with the Sudanese government to help forge a comprehensive plan for stability and reconstruction across the whole of the country.

* I am proud to be a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 7 and I hope all of my colleagues will lend it their support.

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