Drumbeat for Darfur

Urge Senate to act on Sudan divestment authorization
Over the last two years, a number of states have chosen to divest their financial holdings from companies that help fund genocide. Unfortunately, the National Foreign Trade Council successfully challenged Illinois' state divestment law in court, and there may be threats to other state laws.

The Sudan Divestment Authorization Act, S. 831, would protect other states from similar lawsuits by making it clear that state divestment is perfectly in line with U.S. foreign policy. The bill, introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) currently has bipartisan support but is stuck in the Senate Banking Committee.

Take action now!
Send an immediate message to your Senator by e-mail or fax through our Legislative Action Center. In addition, call their Washington offices. UUSC has established a special toll-free number, 800-862-5530, that you may use to respond to this alert. This number will connect you directly to the Capitol switchboard where you can ask for the offices of your senators.

Message/talking points

I am deeply concerned that there is a genocide happening on our watch in Darfur, Sudan.

I urge you to push for swift action on S. 831, the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act.

No state should be obligated to invest its citizens' retirement funds in genocide. The U.S. government currently bars American companies from conducting business operations in Sudan, and we must protect the right of states to divest their pension holdings from companies that do business with the Sudanese government.

Background
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 180, the very similar Darfur Accountability and Divestment Authorization Act by an overwhelming margin just before the summer recess. Grassroots pressure is needed to get the bill moving in the Senate. Delay in its passage will delay vital economic pressure to help end the genocide.

Since 2003, Darfur in Western Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict. The Darfur genocide has been called the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. More than 300,000 innocent civilians have been killed, millions have been forced to flee their homes. The people of Darfur are depending on the world to bring them the peace and security that they have been denied for more than four years. The United Nations has authorized a peacekeeping force, but Sudan is delaying its deployment.

Why Divest?

Sudan has historically responded to economic pressure. For instance, in the late 1990s, a divestment campaign had a significant impact on the share price of major oil companies operating in Sudan, prompting at least one company to withdraw from the country. This helped contribute to the North-South Peace Agreement.
U.S. law prohibits most American companies from operating directly in Sudan. However, U.S. firms are legally able to invest in foreign companies that operate in Sudan, including “highest offenders” that make a significant contribution to funding the genocide.

Many U.S. state pension funds, universities, and investment companies, including Boston-based Fidelity Investments, invest in the highest offending companies—such as PetroChina, Sinopec, ONGC, and Petronas. Divestment sends the message “Don’t invest in genocide” and it puts financial pressure on the government of Sudan to end the genocide.

Why S. 831?

Congress needs to pass substantive legislation to support states' rights to divest. Over the last two years, a number of states have chosen to divest their financial holdings from companies that help fund the genocide. Unfortunately, the National Foreign Trade Council successfully challenged Illinois' state divestment law in court, and there may be threats to other state laws.

Our thanks to coalition partner organization Genocide Intervention Network for providing much of the material used in this report.

Posted September 11, 2007