Human Rights Must be Top Priority for Obama

Human Rights Must be Top Priority for President-Elect Obama

Africa Action Highlights New Report Released by the Genocide Prevention Task Force

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 (Washington, DC) – This year Africa Action commemorates Human Rights Day by urging the new administration to make human rights in Sudan a priority from day one.

“On the 60th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights we must irreversibly affirm the importance and protection of this document to our national security,” said Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action. “All people are guaranteed the right to life, liberty and security of person. Protection of human rights guards against the scourge of failed states and must be inseparably integrated as a pillar of our foreign policy.

On Monday this week the Genocide Prevention Task Force released a report that details fundamental actions that need to be adopted by the President, Congress and American people in order to end the genocide in Darfur and other future mass atrocities.

Michael Stulman, Associate Director of Policy and Communications said, “To date, the U.S. response to genocide and crimes against humanity in Africa has ranged from nonexistent to weak and inconsistent. By implementing the recommendations of the Genocide Prevention Task Force, the U.S. can protect human rights by taking proactive rather than reactive steps. In 2009 the post-Bush U.S.-Sudan policy must include a greater diplomatic effort to strengthen global undertakings that support UNAMID and other multinational peace-keeping mechanisms as outlined in the Report.”

Africa Action and partners will continue our campaign to stop the genocide in Darfur in 2009. For more information and all the latest analysis on the genocide in Darfur, please visit www.africaaction.org darfur

To view copies of the report on-line visit the Genocide Prevention Task Force website www.ushmm.org.

ENDS

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