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International Human Rights: Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo Hannah Epstein and Ilana Langsam

Hi, my name is Hannah Epstein. And Iʼm Ilana Langsam and we are from Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, New Jersey. Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Jewish scholar and activist, once said, “In a free society, only some may be guilty but all are responsible.” This quote represents the United Statesʼ current situation with international countries experiencing international human rights crisis, such as Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2003, about 400,000 people have died and another 2.5 million were displaced in Darfur, the western region of Sudan. There have also been an estimated 5.4 million deaths in the DRC since 1996. We, as U.S. citizens and active members of the Reform Movement feel responsible, just as Heschel stated, to do our best to help. This is why we are asking for Senator Menendez to support an increase in our International Affairs Budget, to pressure President Obama to appoint a high-level envoy, and to continue his advocacy for the International Violence Against Women Act. With our current economic crisis being the main focus of the governmentʼs attention, budget cuts are constantly being made. However, the International Affairs receives such a small percentage of the total budget that increasing the funds they receive would not make a noticeable difference in the debt of our country. The International Affairs Budget must be fully funded in order for the U.S. to be invested in peacemaking abroad. This would allow the government to fund the training and sending of diplomats abroad. This week, an International Criminal Court warrant is expected to be released fot the arrest of Sudanʼs president, Omar al-Bashir. This is a promising sign of hope and peace for the suffering Sudanese citizens. Unfortunately, we are unaware of what will happen when the warrant is released and we need to make sure we have a strong diplomatic presence to ensure stability. What we need is a high-level envoy invested in bringing peace to Sudan. The Janjaweed, or “devils on horseback,” who are killing refugees daily, are armed, trained, and organized by the Sudanese government. Two years ago, some friends and I hosted an event called Dance for Darfur where we raised approximately one thousand dollars for the Save Darfur Coalition. I have felt a strong attachment to this issue since I began learning about it. I hope you feel as compelled as I do to take action. After the Holocaust, the Jews said, “never again.” Because of our past, we would never again let a genocide happen for any reason. In the DRC, rape is used as a weapon of war to destroy women and their communities. In addition to the widespread rape by militia groups, there have been reports that the international peacekeeping forces in the DRC have sexually assaulted the people they were supposed to protect. Rape is being used as a common weapon of the war. This weapon of rape stays with the victims forever. In the DRC, teenagers my age are being

raped along with adult women. This is unjust and we can not sit back and let it continue. The International Violence Against Women Act works to support survivors of sexual violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and most importantly, prevent violence against women around the world. This bill also encourages the president to develop a strategy to prevent violence against women and girls in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. We appreciate the senatorʼs co-sponsorship of this act and we encourage him to continue his leadership. The Holocaust was one of the worst things that ever happened to the Jewish population. When it was over, we swore to make it our responsibility to prevent anything like it from happening again. Here we have a chance to do the right thing. In the Talmud, it says, “It is not upon you to finish the work, but you are not free to ignore it.” As Jews, we understand our duty in this situation, and as United States citizens, it is our responsibility to make sure our leaders understand our duties as well. We thank you for taking the time to meet with us and we hope you will relay our information to Senator Menendez about increasing funds for International Affairs, appointing a high-level envoy, and continuing his support for the International Violence Against Women Act. Thank you.