WASHINGTON, DC –(ENEWSPF)–December 11, 2012. The Enough Project has joined a coalition of human rights groups calling on President Obama to lead a coordinated U.S. response to the escalating crisis in eastern Congo.
Yesterday, the coalition sent a letter to President Obama asking him to appoint a Presidential Envoy and support the appointment of a U.N. envoy to the Great Lakes region, to support the imposition of sanctions against violators of the U.N. Arms Embargo on Congo, and to cut military assistance and suspend non-humanitarian aid to the government of Rwanda for its support of the M23 insurgency.
The coalition welcomes regional efforts by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to find a solution to the crisis, but also recognizes that the regional process’s stopgap approach and reliance on military solutions will not bring sustainable peace to the region. The coalition argues that efforts to achieve a durable peace must be led, not by those who continue to perpetuate the conflict, but rather by a credible internationally facilitated process.
“The current crisis in eastern Congo requires the U.S. to step up its efforts to uphold international law and demonstrate its commitment to human rights,” said John C. Bradshaw, Executive Director of the Enough Project. “Regional intervention in eastern Congo continues to perpetuate a cycle of violence and conflict that cannot be addressed without the support of regional and international actors. The U.S. should appoint a Presidential Envoy to support a credible process that will both cease hostilities and address the underlying economic and political interests to ensure long-term peace and stability for the region.”
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Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, the Enough Project focuses on crises in Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas of Africa affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a“3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. For more information, please visit www.enoughproject.org.
Source: http://www.enoughproject.org
