G8 Sends the Wrong Message to Sudan

Today the G8 released a statement at the conclusion of its annual summit held this year in Hokkaido, Japan. Human Rights First was disappointed that the statement included only a weak paragraph about the ongoing violence in Sudan/Darfur, with no concrete commitments from the G8 on how it would help end the atrocities and help establish a sustainable peace. This represents a step backwards from the more robust statement issued at last years G8 Summit.

For years the Government of Sudan has faced few negative consequences from the international community for the ongoing violence it commits in Darfur and for thumbing its nose at legally binding United Nations Security Council resolutions. One example is the Government of Sudan’s ongoing violations of the Darfur arms embargo. By issuing a weak statement on Sudan/Darfur with no negative consequences, the G8 has risked further emboldening Khartoum to continue to defy its legal obligations.

In the weeks and months ahead, members of the G8 will have opportunities to work within the Security Council and other international fora to help end the conflict in Darfur by taking concrete actions such as enforcing the strengthening the Darfur arms embargo. Human Rights First will be working to ensure G8 member states recognize their responsibility to take such action.

You can read Human Rights First’s full response to the G8 statement here.