Maxine Waters: “I rise to support H. Con Res. 7, which strongly urges the League of Arab States to step up their diplomatic efforts to…”

“I rise to support H. Con Res. 7, which strongly urges the League of Arab States to step up their diplomatic efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur. This resolution urges the League of Arab States and each individual Member State to: (1) Declare the systematic torture, rape, and displacement of the people of Darfur a genocide; (2) Pass a resolution at their next meeting to support and accept a United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force to enforce the ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure access to humanitarian assistance in Darfur; and (3) Work with the United Nations, the African Union and the United States Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, to bring about real and lasting peace and stability in Darfur, the refugee camps, and along the Chadian border. On August 20 of last year, the League of Arab States met in Egypt and supported Sudan's refusal to allow a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur. The following month, the League of Arab States called for the United Nations Security Council to give the government of Sudan more time to improve security conditions in Darfur. By that time, it had already been estimated that over 450,000 people had died as a result of genocide in Darfur. Since then the death toll has continued to mount. Last year, I visited the Darfur region with my good friend, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and I was deeply disturbed by what I saw.”