Darfur Consortium: Action: Events

May 8-10: "Towards a regional coalition to save Darfur"

As a result of a responsible initiative taken by the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, in Cairo, a regional workshop was held, from 8 – 10 May, 2008. The workshop was entitled "Towards a regional coalition to save Darfur." Representatives from civil society and human rights organizations from eleven countries attended the workshops; they are: Sudan, Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Mauritania, Kuwait and Egypt; in addition to the participation of a number of experts and media personalities that are interested in Sudan in general and Darfur in particular.

The main papers presented gave a general overview of the historical background of Darfur and current issues. Some of those issues took the participants by surprise when armed forces of the Justice and Equality Movement entered the City of Um Durman and instigated fights. Those fights will add fuel to fire and will widen the circle of violence in Sudan. The evaluation of the role of civil society, media and governments, in the respective Arab countries has been discussed. The nature of responses were also analyzed in addition to misconceptions concerning this humanitarian crisis for the citizens of Darfur.

Over the period of three days, participants worked on the formulation of an outlook concerning the creation of a civil society coalition, specifying its humanitarian and legal vision, and prioritizing activities that the coalition is going to conduct during the next upcoming year on the local, regional or international levels. This in addition to the activities that are going to be conducted in the individual countries through the organizations, which are members of the coalition.

The participants agreed to create "The Arab Coalition for Darfur", and its general secretariat will be made up of organizations and founding personalities that participated in the first and second workshops. The executive secretariat, in the foundation stage, will be, The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, with the help of five organizations, which are (Social Democratic Forum – Yemen, Al Amal Center to Fight Torture – Sudan, Al Bahrain Center for Human Rights – Bahrain, The National Organization for Human Rights – Syria, and Citizenship Human Rights Organization – Egypt).

Participants called upon presidents of Arab States to use all their potential, relations and resources to stop the conflict and to ask all involved parties to meet around a negotiation table in an attempt to find a peaceful solution for the problem of Darfur.

The participants also called upon all parties involved in the armed struggle of Darfur to stop fighting promptly in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum and neighboring cities in an attempt to limit bloodshed and to protect civilians who are not taking part in the fighting.

At the end of the workshop, the participants expressed their solidarity with the citizens of Darfur in lieu of what they have been subjected to. They also expressed their support of their human and social rights by calling upon all related parties to seriously and loyally work to protect the citizens of Darfur from the raging struggle, violence and to affect justice and fairness for all inhabitants:

No	Representative of the Organization	Name of the Organization
	Mr. Haggag Nayel	Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
	Mr. Joseph Wol Modesto	Sudan Development Association SDA- Sudan
	Mr. Asem Rababa'a	Adalah Center for Human Rights Studies
	Dr. Imad Rabie	Equality Center for Democracy Studies and Research – Jordan
	Mr. Ma'en Ali Al Beyari	Journalist – U.A.E
	Mr. Abdel Hadi Al Khawaja	Al Bahrain Center for Human Rights – Bahrain
	Mr. Abdel Nabi Al Ikri	Bahraini Society for Human Rights – Bahrain
	Ms. Safia Fahasy	Algerian Coordination Committee of the families of the missing
	Dr. Al Baqer Al Afif Mokhtar	Al Khatm Adlan Center for Consultation and Human Development - Sudan
	Mr. Kamal Al Jazouli	Lawyer, Writer and Legal Activist Civil Watch for Human Rights – Sudan
	Dr. Najib Najm El Din	Al Amal Center – Sudan

	Mr. Zein Al Abdeen Bin Al Tayeb Othman	American African Association to Prohibit Torture – New York

	Mr. Hayder Sha'ban	Iraqi Network for Human Rights - Iraq
	Dr. Abdel Hussein Sha'ban	Director of Al Baghdadia Channel – Iraq
	Mr. Mohammad Yehyia Al Sabri	Rehabilitation and Information Center – Yemen
	Mr. Nabil Abdel Hafeez Majed	Democratic Social Forum - Yemen
	Ms. Bahyia Mardini	National Organization for Human Rights – Journalist – Syria
	Mr. Salem Abdel Hafez Al Faqhi	Libyan Arab Organization for Human Rights - Libya
	Mr. Sidi Othman Wld Al Sheikh	Northern League for Democracy Development and Human Rights – Mauritania
	Ms. Suheir Abdel Aziz Abbas	Journalist – Al Midan Newspaper – Sudan
	Mr. Khalil Ibrahim Al Qattan	Kuwaiti Organization – Kuwait
	Ms. Nada Barakat	Arab Network for Human Rights and Legal Assistance - Sudan
	Mr. Sherif Zayfer Hilali	Arab Organization for the Support of Civil Society and Human Rights - Egypt
	Mr. Imad Ramadan	Arab Organization for the Support of Civil Society and Human Rights - Egypt
	Mr. Sherif Azar	Egyptian Democratic Institute for Constitutional and Legal Awareness – Egypt
	Ms. Iman Abdel Mo'men	Women Development Forum – Egypt
	Mr. Isam El Din Saker	Civil Watch for Human Rights – Egypt
	Mr. Ashraf Al Da'da'	National Belonging Organization for Human Rights – Egypt
	Mr. Hasan Al Shami	Egyptian Organization for Scientific and Technological Development - Egypt
	Dr. Majida Said	Human Rights Supporters Organization - Egypt
	Mr. Mahmoud Qandil	Lawyer - Egypt
	Mr. Ahmed Al Shemsi	Freedom Radio – Egypt
	Ms. Shadia Mohammad Ahmed Bakr	Sudanese Women Organization - Egypt
	Mr. Mohammad Kamal Mohammad Farid	Shomo' of Human Rights Welfare - Egypt
	Mr. Nabil Abdel Fattah	ِAl Ahram Political and Strategic Center - Egypt
	Mr. Mokhtar Qassem	Al Nida' Al Jadeed - Egypt
	Ms. Ameenah Al Naqqash	Al Ahali Newspaper - Egypt
	Mr. Islam Abul Ainain	Arab Organization for Human Rights - Egypt
	Dr. Amani Al Taweel	Consultant, Political and Strategic Studies Center - Egypt
	Mr. Shreef Azar	Egyptian Organization for Human Rights - Egypt
	Ms. Nouf Sari	League of Arab Women Association – Egypt
	Ms. Amal Ahmad Lashin	Lawyer and Activist – Egypt
	Mr. Mahmoud Mortada	Center of Alternative Development Studies and Programs - Egypt
	Mr. Hani Raslan	Political and Strategic Studies Center - Egypt
	Dr. Sad Hgras	Editor in Chief of Alam Yom – Egypt
	Mr. George Ishaq	General Secretary of Kefaya Movement - Egypt
	Ms. Maryan Makram	Researcher and Translator
	ِMr. Abdel Majeed Saleh	Darfur Democratic Platform
	Ms. Shadia Mohammad Ahmad	Sudanese Women Organization