800+ Students March on Capitol Hill and Make History

Activists participate in largest lobby day and protest in genocide prevention history, using innovative video advocacy tools

• Press Release
• Source: WITNESS
• On 8:30 am EST, Monday November 9, 2009

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, over 800 student activists converged on Capitol Hill for the largest lobby day to prevent genocide in history. The event was the culmination of the Pledge2Protect conference (convened by STAND, the student-led division of Genocide Intervention Network, the Save Darfur Coalition and Enough Project), which brought together students from all over the nation for training and education on the situations in Sudan, Burma and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The central advocacy goal of today's lobby day is to push Congress to implement the recommendations of the Genocide Prevention Task Force (GPTF) report, released nearly one year ago. The report is a policy blueprint for United States action to prevent and stop genocide and mass atrocities. The key recommendations include increasing flexible funding for crisis prevention and enhancing early warning capabilities.

Student activists are using a variety of technology tools -- from webcams to mobile phones -- to amplify voices from their state calling for legislative action to end genocide and mass atrocities. These messages will be screened and hand-delivered to their U.S. Senators later today. Through the "Pledge on Camera" project (organized by STAND and WITNESS, the human rights organization who pioneered video advocacy), students collected 500 video messages from their student body and community and, for the first time, edited them to create individual videos for their Senators. The video features interviews with GPTF members and policy experts, along with local voices. [To download videos for broadcast use, visit: www.witness.org/standpress]

"The Pledge2Protect attendees lobbying today demonstrate that a substantial U.S. constituency is willing to hold elected officials accountable, not only for effectively responding to ongoing atrocities, but also for meaningful action to prevent future genocides and mass atrocities," said Sam Bell, Executive Director of Genocide Intervention Network. Bell added: "If the Administration won't act, Congress can play the leading role in ensuring that the United States is doing all it can."

"With this campaign we are seeing the 'YouTube generation' in action -- and today, we're seeing them change how citizens are lobbying Congress," said Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, Executive Director of WITNESS. "Pledge On Camera is designed to remind Congress of the moral and political imperative to ensure that genocide will not occur on their watch or in the future -- to make 'never again' a reality once and for all."

Jerry Fowler, the President of the Save Darfur Coalition said, "Less than a month after the Obama administration unveiled the Sudan policy review, hundreds of activists are coming to Washington to ensure that Sudan is a priority for President Obama. The advocates came from across the United States to tell President Obama that they want him to lead for peace in Sudan."

"The crucial ingredient to moving the Obama administration to greater action is citizen action, usually led by student activists. If we are going to make progress on stopping genocide, rape as a war weapon, or child soldier recruitment, it will be because enough people speak out and face these issues," said John Norris, the Executive Director of Enough Project. "The lobby day is a crucial ingredient for success."

For more information:

Media Advisory: http://files.darfurgenocide.net/press/media_advisory.pdf

Extended Press Release: http://files.darfurgenocide.net/press/pressrelease.pdf

View Personalized Videos for Senators: http://hub.witness.org/STAND-STUDENT-VIDEOS

Genocide Intervention Network -- Genocide Intervention Network is working to build the first permanent anti-genocide constituency, mobilizing the political will to stop genocide when it occurs. Accessible online at www.GenocideIntervention.net, Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals with the tools to stop genocide.

WITNESS - WITNESS (www.witness.org) uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. WITNESS empowers people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

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