Darfur 'Washing Lines' of Bloodied Clothes

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA RELEASE
9 December 2006

Darfur 'Washing Lines' of Bloodied Clothes

Bloodied clothes hung on washing lines are being placed in public spaces in over 150 countries worldwide.

The clothes represent the women and children who have been abducted, raped and killed by armed factions and government troops in Darfur, while the rest of the world dithers.

Amnesty International activists around the world are participating in the Global Day for Darfur (10 December), to urge the immediate deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Force in the Sudan. The focus of this Global Day of Action is 'sexual violence against women and girls' in Darfur.

In a speech made to honour International Human Rights Day (10 December), out-going U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan blasted the international community's failure to intervene in Darfur.

"To judge by what is happening in Darfur, our performance has not improved much since the disasters of Bosnia and Rwanda. Sixty years after the liberation of the Nazi death camps, and 30 years after the Cambodian killing fields, the promise of 'never again' is ringing hollow". Kofi Annan

"Rape and sexual violence have been prevalent since the beginning of the Darfur conflict over 3 years ago. The testimonies collected by Amnesty International in Darfur reveal that rape is being used as a weapon of war to inflict fear and to displace women and their communities" said Gary Reese, Campaigns Manager for Amnesty International.

Several 'Clothes Lines' are being placed in Wellington:

Frank Kitts Park
Sunday 10 December , 11am 4pm

Cuba St Mall (outside Farmers)
Monday 11 December , 8am 10am

Ends

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