By Charlie Clements, UUSC President

Over the past 58 years, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has had an enormous impact on protecting human rights and more recently on holding government officials accountable for their misdeeds. It has perhaps had more influence than any single written document in human history as its effects continue to cascade like waterfalls in every corner of the world.

The world observes International Human Rights Day on December 10 to commemorate the date in 1948 that the UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. As human rights advocates, this is a time of reflection and reaffirmation of our commitment to the struggle for justice and peace in the world.

Despite advances in protecting human rights, many critical challenges confront the international community. Perhaps none is more urgent than the genocide that continues in the Darfur region of Sudan, where millions of people suffer in a preventable man-made crisis. An estimated 300,000 civilians have lost their lives from war, disease, and starvation.

UUSC is one of more than 170 faith-based, advocacy, and humanitarian groups in the Save Darfur Coalition committed to raising public awareness and mobilizing to stop the genocide . As part of the observance of International Human Rights Day, the coalition is sponsoring a Weekend of Prayer for Darfur from December 8 through 10. Please visit the Save Darfur Coalition website for a Faith Action Packet with background information, sample prayers, actions to consider, and a list of resources.

In Darfur, a government-supported campaign of ethnic cleansing initiated three years ago continues unabated despite the international outcry. The United Nations has described it as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and the United States has termed it genocide.

UUSC and others in the advocacy community have succeeded over the past year in raising public awareness and exerting pressure on the White House and Congress to take action. More pressure is needed.

This spring along with other members of the Save Darfur Coalition, UUSC participated in a “Million Voices for Darfur.” This nationwide postcard campaign forced the Bush Administration to take notice. Pressure from the United States and the United Nations led to the signing of a peace agreement last May between the Sudanese government and the largest of three rebel groups. This fragile agreement didn't last and the killing continues. Every day the situation worsens and the violence has recently spilled over into neighboring Chad.

A year ago I traveled to Chad and visited camps filled with refugees from Darfur. They told wrenching stories of the systematic rape of women and girls, of villages being strafed and bombed, of civilians gunned down by Janjaweed militias armed and supported by the Sudanese government.

All of us can’t visit refugee camps in Darfur or Chad, but we can all pressure the White House and elected officials to say “Not on our watch.” We can insist on the need for a strong international force that can bring peace to the region. The world’s only superpower must provide the leadership to end this genocide.

As we mark International Human Rights Day, I urge you to join us in redoubling our efforts to bring peace and justice to Darfur. Visit our website often for updates and actions you can take in the coming months. UUSC will soon make available a new documentary entitled “Heroes of the Spirit” that focuses on two of UUSC’s founders, the Rev. Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha, and how their legacy inspires us to confront the Darfur genocide. The documentary will be on a DVD that also will include a video about our work in Darfur and study/action resources.

Posted December 6, 2006