Sample Letter To Representative - 16 Days

Dear Representative ______: As one of your constituents, I am deeply concerned by the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and in particular by the widespread rape and sexual violence against Darfuri women. When the Sudanese government expelled over a dozen humanitarian organizations from Darfur in March 2009, it destroyed a fragile network of organizations that provided services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV). Darfuri civilians who survive violent sexual attacks are now left without access to these services, which include emergency treatment for injuries, documentation of injuries, access to HIV/AIDS prophylactic treatment, pregnancy testing and psychological and social support. I therefore urge you to meet with or call Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and encourage her to ensure that the U.S. prioritizes the restoration of GBV services in Darfur, along with other “life-saving” sectors like protection and food security. The restoration of GBV services must be a key benchmark for evaluating the United States’ policy toward Sudan and the Obama administration’s engagement of the Khartoum regime. [Elaborate on why this issue is important to you] As the U.S. works to help broker peace in Darfur and facilitate effective humanitarian aid operations, we must ensure that medical, psychological and other services are available to survivors of rape and sexual violence in Darfur. We must protect the rights of Darfuri women and girls and not allow the Government of Sudan, which has denied the very existence of rape in the region, to succeed in wiping out services for survivors. Thank you for your commitment to civilians in Darfur, Sudan. I look forward to your leadership on this issue. Sincerely, Your Name Your Address