Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Global Day for Darfur September 15, 2006 “On September 17th, I will join people throughout the world in observing the Global Day for Darfur. This multinational call from people of all faiths and backgrounds to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur comes as world leaders convene for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. We must hear this call and act quickly to stop this needless suffering. The United Nations was created in part to ensure that the unimaginable atrocities of World War II would never happen again. Yet over two million Sudanese have been driven away from their homes and remain displaced, many in camps that offer little refuge from unspeakable violence. And now the Sudanese government appears to be making an all-out push to finish the job of ethnic cleansing in Darfur. We must not allow this to happen. As hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance, the international community must take swift and decisive action to bring an end to the suffering. This includes the extension and strengthening of the African Union force currently in Darfur, the transition to a UN peacekeeping force, targeted sanctions on key Sudanese leaders, and the establishment of a no-fly zone over the region. We must not allow further complacency on the part of the international community. I hope that the message of the Global Day for Darfur echoes in the chambers of the United Nations General Assembly: the time to act is now.” View Senator Feingold’s September 11th, 2006 letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Lugar calling for action in Darfur at http://www.feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/Lugar%20Darfur%20Letter.pdf. View a comprehensive timeline of Senator Feingold’s work to end the genocide in Darfur at http://www.feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/issues_sudantimeline.html.

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