Due to the human rights abuses in Sudan, Guilford’s Amnesty International club is joining the international movement to resolve the crisis. Sudanese authorities have been committing human rights abuses in western Sudan, and Amnesty says that the conflict is spreading to eastern Sudan. The organization reports that “over 70,000 people are believed to have lost their lives since the Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003.”
Amnesty believes that the conflict in eastern Sudan will escalate if the authorities take no action.
Guilford’s Amnesty club is focusing on Sudan because of the extent of the crisis. “The Sudanese conflict includes every human rights violation Amnesty is against. Murder, bombings, child soldiers, disappearances, rape, threats against aid efforts, and countless other violations,” said Mary-Nevin Hobgood.
Despite reports from Amnesty International that the militant group Janjawid is committing human rights violations, authorities in Sudan continue to support this group. “The Sudanese government appears unwilling to address the human rights crisis in the region,” according to Amnestyusa.org.
Violence between the government and the rebel groups did not stop with a recent truce agreement, according to The Washington Post. Since the Darfur conflict started in 2003, over 2 million people have taken refuge in nearby camps.
Guilford’s Amnesty club, which meets every Thursday at 9 p.m. in the Greenleaf, plans to hold several events to raise awareness. “Amnesty is planning to hold another candlelight vigil in the near future to bring local attention to the issue. We are also going to hold a t-shirt sale and use the profits of this fundraiser for the Sudan issue,” said Hobgood.
While the Amnesty club is focused on Sudan, it is also concerned about other issues that are important Guilford students. “We’d love more community involvement and are open to any new ideas or issues that the community wants to focus on,” said Hobgood.