Darfur legislation

In what could hopefully provide a continued push to initiate a more concerted effort towards solving the Darfur Conflict, the House of Representatives, on October 29th, passed three different resolutions.  The three resolutions are H.Res.573, which recognizes and commends the efforts of U.S. advocacy groups to raise awareness about and help end the worsening crisis in Darfur, H.Res.740, which condemns the brutal attack on African Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur a little over a month ago and H.Res.726, a resolution calling on the President and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and prevent acts of rape and sexual violence against the most innocent of Darfur's victims - young girls and women.

Though these resolutions certainly do not represent final solutions to ultimately solving the Darfur conflict, they will collectively put pressure on the Sudanese government to comply with UN/AU peacekeeping forces that are supposed to be placed in Darfur, but have been unable to make a significant difference in the region because they are seen as an act of Western invasion. 

If there was one piece of legislation that could produce the strongest results it is certainly H.Res.726, which takes action against the rape and sexual violence that is increasingly present.  Rape has been used as a primary tool of the Janjaweed militiamen for their ethnic cleansing.  Specifically, this legislation outlines various initiatives that should be taken in order to not only halt the rape and sexual violence that is occurring, but also to help alleviate the problem as it continues. 

For more information on the Darfur Conflict click here .