Unga, G20 Coalition Sign On Letter

August 31, 2009 President Barack H. Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Obama: Your leadership today is critical to resolving the crisis in Darfur and building a better tomorrow for civilians throughout Sudan. We, a broad coalition of faith-based, human rights and advocacy organizations, have greatly anticipated the release of your Administration's comprehensive policy plan for Sudan. The plan itself, however, is ultimately just a starting point. What truly matters most is whether or not those words on paper are effectively translated into action on the ground, and whether that action ultimately yields peace for those who live there. This is a significant undertaking, and it is clear that bringing peace to Sudan is not something the U.S. can accomplish alone. It is just as clear however that U.S. leadership must play a central role in galvanizing the international community to finally solve Sudan's recurrent crises. The upcoming session of the UN General Assembly in New York and meeting of the G-20 nations in Pittsburgh offer you two ideal opportunities to lend the weight of your personal engagement to your policy plan for Sudan. During the UN General Assembly, we therefore call on you to include a section on Darfur and Sudan in your speech to the General Assembly and raise Darfur and Sudan during any head of state session of the Security Council and in any bilateral meetings with key heads of state. With these different audiences of the world's leaders, you have the unique ability to urge the international community to support a credible and inclusive Darfur peace process, the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the International Criminal Court's proceedings on Darfur. To accomplish these objectives, you can also use these occasions to build international consensus on the necessary set of carrots and sticks required to change the behavior of the Sudanese government. During the G-20 meeting, we likewise call on you to raise Darfur and Sudan in your meetings with this select group of the world's leaders. In addition to continuing your push for the above policies and measures, we ask that you focus on the important role the world's largest economies have the potential to play in influencing Sudan's actions. G-20 nations are responsible for a majority of Sudan's foreign trade, and hold a majority of Sudan's foreign debt. We therefore urge you to push these nations to adopt a common platform that uses the strength of those economic relationships to compel significant and demonstrable progress by the Sudanese regime related to peace in Darfur and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with South Sudan.

There are no easy fixes for Sudan, and progress will likely take time. That wait for peace will be shorter and the lives lost will be fewer with your robust personal engagement. Thank you for your commitment to bringing peace to Sudan, we look forward to your leadership at this critical time. Sincerely, Name Title Organization