AJWS Applauds Presidential Candidates' Joint Resolve To Bring Peace To Sudan

Clinton, McCain, Obama: 'We stand united on Sudan.'

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 28, 2008 -- American Jewish World Service (http://www.ajws.org) (AJWS) today applauded a joint statement from presidential candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama pledging their united resolve to end the Darfur genocide and bring peace and security to all of Sudan. The statement was coordinated by the Save Darfur Coalition (http://www.savedarfur.org).

"As we campaign for President of the United States over the next several months, we expect there to be significant focus on the many differences between us," reads the statement. "It is with this awareness that we are taking the uncommon step of issuing a joint statement about an issue. After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world community."

The full statement can be viewed here: Candidate Statement (www.savedarfur.org/candidates_statement).

For more than five years, the Government of Sudan has been arming and organizing militias, with backing by the Sudanese army, to engage in a genocidal campaign against the people of Darfur (http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=africa&c=darfur). To date, the conflict in Sudan has led to the deaths of more than 400,000 civilians and creation of more than 2.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons. Since the beginning of 2008 alone, some 75,000 more people have been displaced. Increasing violence is impeding the ability of humanitarian workers to provide aid to the more than 4 million now dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive.

AJWS (http://action.ajws.org/campaign/olympicspetition) has been a leader in efforts to end the genocide in Darfur by mobilizing the American Jewish community, and working with others in the international development, human rights and faith communities to pass state and federal divestment legislation, and increase U.S. international funding for humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping.

Ruth W. Messinger, president of AJWS said: "The genocide in Darfur can only end when powerful world leaders demonstrate a firm commitment to bringing peace and security to the region. The three candidates have indicated that they will not allow the killing, rape and displacement to continue."

About AJWS

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism's imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

"This statement is a major step in the right direction and we look forward to working with whoever becomes our next President on developing a plan of action that includes a fully deployed peacekeeping force, stronger international sanctions against Sudan, continued stability in South Sudan and increased pressure on China as Sudan's largest supplier of money and weaponry."

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