Investing in Human Rights in Sudan
Join Amnesty's Sudan Country Specialist, Denise Bell, and Business & Human Rights Campaigner, Amy O'Meara for an online chat on September 27th, 2007. Find out how you can use economic activism as another tool to press for security and human rights in Darfur, and for the long-term throughout Sudan.
Featured Guest: Denise Bell and Amy O'MearaFrom our featured guest: "We look forward to answering your questions on Thursday, September 27th, but feel free to submit your questions in advance as well."
Question Submitted by Alice E. Kidder:
I am making a presentation to my church in Cambridge MA (cong. 500). What steps should our church take to encourage an end to violence in the Sudan?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
First of all, we want to welcome everyone to today's chat!
In advance we want to ask your forgiveness for our inevitable typos. We both skipped that class in high school.
That's great that you are making a presentation to your church - the faith-based community can play an incredibly important role in this work.
Amnesty has a number of actions on our website, targeting a variety of international actors. The most important thing you can do is circulate these letters, gather signatures and send them! We continually hear from people in power that hearing from their constituents is what compels them to act, so don't underestimnate the power of your pen, and your voice.
Check out www.instantkarma.org to sign the global petition, www.amnestyusa.org/countries/sudan for more info and actions, and our new webpage on economic activism: www.amnestyusa.org/business (click on oil in Sudan). You can find a page with links to more information and action resources at:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1081009
Next, we encourage you to contact your field organizer in the NE regional office for ideas on how to link up with other efforts in your area to increase your impact. Contact info for all regions can be found here:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1031005
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Question Submitted by Amy:
Hi!Iam an international member of Amnesty International from Kenya. I would like to know the range of activities Amnesty International is engaged in in Darfur-Sudan. Are there any possible ways in which members in Kenya can be actively involved so as to stop the unrest in Darfur? I would wish to have insights to these enquiries so that I can give my input.
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Absolutely, AI members around the world can be actively involved in Amnesty's Darfur campaign. Check out www.amnesty.org, the international site, for actions that target international pressure points (ours here in the US focus on domestic actors). Also, see www.globefordarfur.org, an international coalition which AI is part of, which includes African NGOs - they can help you link up with other activists in Africa working on this issue.
Finally, we would suggest checking out www.eyeondarfur.org for satellite imagery of destroyed and imperiled villages, where you can find additional ways to take action.
AI is always interested in the input and insights of our members, please contact the section in your country or the International Secretariat in London www.amnesty.org
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Question Submitted by Leah:
Is Amnesty taking action to directly help civilians impacted by the conflict in Darfur?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Amnesty is not a humanitarian aid organization, so we do not have this capacity. However, we mobilize our massive grassroots membership to pressure the Government of Sudan to ensure access to humanitarian aid.
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Question Submitted by Karen:
Is Amnesty going along with the divestment legislation that hitting the national scene in response to Darfur?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Excellent question. Over its history, Amnesty International has taken a neutral stance on divestment, and has instead recommended alternatives, in particular engagement and shareholder activism. In the case of Sudan, we maintain this neutral position, and have tried to identify how Amnesty can best leverage its strengths – our unparalleled research and our powerful grassroots membership – to use economic pressure to increase the force and momentum of the Darfur movement.
Considering this position, we do not endorse the legislation.
Part of why we are holding this chat today is to introduce our new economic activism campaign. We are mobilizing major U.S.-based institutional investors to press top oil companies operating in Sudan to do everything in their power to ensure that their operations contribute to greater security and well-being for the people of Sudan and do not fuel human rights abuses.
This is one more tool in our campaign to end the violence in Darfur.
What is important to keep in mind is that while there are different ways of putting pressure on the companies operating in Sudan, what we all agree on is that these companies have enormous influence and a significant role to play.
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Question Submitted by Viola:
Can you give us some names of the U.S.-based institutional investors that you are hoping to work with in your new campaign? And is there a particular reason you don't support the divestment legistlation? Thank you.
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
First of all, we want to apologize for the delays... we are having some technical difficulties on this end and will do our best to get to as many questions as possible. Also, the chat will be available as an archive after it's over.
Now, to answer your question. We are already working very closely with several socially responsible investors, religious investors, and some progressive city and state pension funds. Together we are hoping to encourage more mainstream investors, such as Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, and others to join us.
In August 2007, Amnesty International USA, the Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net), and Calvert Investments held a workshop for institutional investors – including socially responsible investment companies (SRIs); religious investors who are members of the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR); large pension managers; and a few progressive mainstream investment companies. Many of these investors screen problematic companies from their investment portfolios, while others choose to use their holdings to engage these companies and push for them to improve their business practices. The goal uniting all of these shareholders was the desire to use their collective influence to push for change in Sudan through engagement and shareholder activism.
On September 24, a joint letter was sent to the top institutional investors of the top 4 oil companies in Sudan and/or their publicly traded subsidiaries, asking them to use their influence with these companies to press for an end to the crisis in Darfur.
We are asking our members to support this call to action. You can see the 10 top investors we are pressuring by taking our online action at http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1081014
The reason we don't support the divestment legislation is because AI has a neutral stance on divestment.
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Question Submitted by Jon:
And the horrific conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and of course the occupation of Iraq...there seems to be and omission of these areas.... maybe we should be mentioning them in the context of an overall strategy to de-militarize the African, Middle Eastern regions...
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Though today's chat is focused on Darfur, rest assured that Amnesty is working to end abuses across the world, including the regions you mention. You might be particularly interested in our Control Arms Campaign:http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1101446
Also from the AI homepage www.amnestyusa.org you can click on the "countries" box to access human rights research on almost every country in the world.
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Question Submitted by Etlin:
What can be done to address the spillover effects of the conflict in Darfur on Chad and the Central African Republic? And conversely, is the human rights situation in South Sudan significantly improved, or is it just overshadowed by Darfur?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Thanks you that is an excellent and timely question.
There are two actions on our website to help address the spillover of violence:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=YCA0882033000E
These address the rampant insecurity affecting civilians from armed combatants. However, AI is hopeful there will be protection for civilians.
Just yesterday, we welcomed the news that the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1178, authorizing the deployment of a multidimensional presence in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), to be called "MINURCAT".
Amnesty International hopes that this development signals a renewed international commitment to ensuring the protection of civilians in this war-torn region.
The passing of Resolution 1178 constitutes an important step forward in protecting civilians in eastern Chad and northern CAR. The organization calls for the force to be deployed quickly and be adequately resourced in order to best protect civilians.
As for South Sudan, AI is monbitoring the situation, and sees South Sudan and Darfur as separate but connected, and we have a comprehensive strategy for Sudan as a whole. However, given the humanitarian catastrophe of Darfur, our immediate strategy focuses on bringing security to that region.
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Question Submitted by A.M. Collins:
Sanctions and embargos often hurt the citizens more than the government. for instance, I heard if we sanctioned the oil business that we'd be affecting the "good" sudan and not Darfur. How does this work?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
AI is not supporting sanctions or embargoes. Part of the reason for this is the challenge inherent in assessing the full range of human rights impacts. This is why we are undertaking an economic activism campaign using shareholder advocacy -- to leverage the influence of companies operating there to help protect people of Darfur.
Shareholder activism on Sudan needs to be viewed within the context of a broad initiative to press for speedy implementation of UNAMID peacekeeping forces. No single strategy on its own will work, and economic activism can be used, alongside political activism targeting international leaders and the Sudanese government.
There are many reasons to believe that shareholder activism will be an effective strategy for pushing these companies to influence the Government of Sudan to act. Given Khartoum’s dependency on oil revenue to fuel and sustain its growth, the government will be particularly sensitive to economic pressure from this sector.
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Question Submitted by yves-marie:
I have send a lot of letters to Sudan but the situation has changed very little. what can I do more?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Though progress has been slow, there has been positive movement, and your letters have absolutly contributed to that. First of all, we encourage you to continue spreading the word about what is happening in Darfur - using the many educational resources we have listed in this chat. And keep gathering signatures on letters and petitions to a variety of influential actors, whether it is investors, governments or the UN. The important thing is to build a united front demanding an end to the violence, so that the Government of Sudan cannot deny its commitment to admit peacekeepers quickly.
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Question Submitted by Rebecca:
Hi, Amy and Denise. How successful have advocates been in convincing Wall Street firms to take a stand. Other than letters and petitions, can more be done? Thanks
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
We are still in early days, but it is fair to say that most have not come close to doing everything that they could do. Nonetheless, we are hopeful that investors will rise to the occasion if they are provided with concrete steps that they can take that will make a difference, and we look forward to engaging with them on that.
I think we all feel paralyzed by the feeling that this conflict is out of our hands, but still we must try, as individuals or as institutional investors, to recognize the points of influence we have and leverage them in whatever ways we can.
Since there are many financial firms still investing in the major oil companies operating in Sudan (including Morgan Stanley) there is a clear opportunity for broad based shareholder activism. We cannot allow some players to stand by the sidelines, claiming to be “passive” investors. By working together with some of the country’s largest socially responsible shareholders, who have already taken such a stand, we hope to further pressure other institutional shareholders who have refused to do so thus far, and in doing so, influence the Big 4 to play a more direct role in helping to bring security to war-torn Darfur.
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Question Submitted by panagiotis:
What s exactly the relation between those comapnies and the situation in Sudan?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Much of the revenue fueling the conflict in Darfur is generated by the oil industry. Ninety percent of Sudan’s export income is derived from oil, with a majority of those revenues funding military expenditures, and virtually none supporting social development. As Sudan does not have the capital or expertise to efficiently extract and refine oil, it relies almost entirely on foreign companies to operate this lucrative industry.
Since 1997, under executive order from President Clinton, American companies and citizens have been barred from conducting business in Sudan, with a few exceptions for humanitarian, food, and medical goods, and Sudanese government assets in the United States have been frozen. President Bush reinforced the executive order, expanding the prohibition to all transactions by United States persons relating to the petroleum or petrochemical industries.
In the absence of U.S.-based companies, China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and a host of Arab League and European countries have stepped in to provide Sudan with the investment dollars to build its oil industry and create thriving telecommunications, arms, construction, and extractive-resource industries.
Four foreign companies have come to dominate Sudan's oil industry. The companies operate through Sudan-based consortia that have control over specific oilfield blocks for exploration, drilling, production, and services. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Chemical and Petroleum Corporation (Sinopec Corp.), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India-Videsh (OVL). CNPC, OVL, and Petronas are state-owned, and Sinopec Corp is a privatized arm of Sinopec Group, a Chinese state-owned company.
We’d like to emphasize again that Amnesty is NOT accusing these companies of complicity in the conflict in Darfur. We are asking these companies to leverage their massive economic influence in the country to urge the Government of Sudan to admit UN peacekeepers without delay.
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Question Submitted by Patrick:
Do you have ways for students or classrooms to help?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Absolutely. Amnesty's Human Rights Education Program has developed a curriculum which can be downloaded here: http://www.instantkarma.org/doc/Final_Curriculum_Draft.pdf
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Question Submitted by Marilyn Chilcote:
have you been in touch with the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA-- it's 'RESPONSIBILITY THRU INVESTMENT' or something like that; IN PAST THEY DIVESTED cimpanies supportng Isreal-- a good campaign; maybe they would partner
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. As we've mentioned, we do not call for divestment, but we are interested in collaborating with other groups that are pressing companies to take a stand in Darfur. We will definitely get in touch and see if there are ways we can work together.
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Question Submitted by Mark:
Do you think war crimes charges against the Sudanese political leadership are warranted?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Amnesty believes that all persons responsible for crimes under international law committed in Darfur, regardless of rank, must be brought to justice, either before the International Criminal Court (ICC) or before national courts, in fair trials without the death penalty. On April 27, 2007, the ICC issued arrest warrants against government minister Ahmad Harun and Janjawid leader Ali Kushayb. The two are suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, Sudan, including murder, rape and torture. The Sudanese authorities have refused so far to allow them to be tried by the ICC. Amnesty International believes that justice is essential to building a lasting peace in Darfur, and that cooperation with the ICC is the best hope of bringing to justice perpetrators of the worst crimes committed in Darfur.
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Question Submitted by Sazib:
What can we do as a family to resolve the situation in Darfur? We have already signed several petitions and donated money but we want to do more. Thanks.
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
If you are affiliated with a church or community group, or if your children’s school is open to the idea, we recommend organizing an awareness-raising event including a speaker from AI and a write-a-thon. Even though you have been following the crisis and doing a lot personally, you would be surprised by how many people out there do not know what is happening or what they can do to help the situation.
You might also look into whether there is a local Darfuri immigrant population in your area, and consider donating clothes or volunteering to assist with resettlement issues.
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Question Submitted by Mayuko:
What exactly is economic activism? What kind of economic activism is available, and what can we do to spread the type of action?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Economic activism entails a wide range of tactics, but broadly refers to using the influence of economic actors – such as companies, investors, and even consumers – to effect change. The type of economic activism that Amnesty is encouraging in this instance is shareholder advocacy, whereby investors use their stock ownership as an opportunity to raise issues of concern with companies they own. The best way to get involved with this type of activism to help encourage corporate responsibility for social and environmental issues broadly is to join Amnesty’s SHARE POWER campaign www.amnestyusa.org/business/sharepower. To take economic action related to Darfur, check out our action page here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1081014
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Question Submitted by phil:
Why is there no serious campaign to get countries around the world to committ to a boycott the 2008 Bejing Olympics if the Chinese do not apply pressure to the regime in Sudan that produces specified results by a pre-determined date?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
Amnesty International is not calling for a boycott of the Olympics, but that does not mean we are not applying pressure to China as the host of the Ganmes. Amnesty recently published a report outlining our concerns, "China: The Olympics Countdown - One Year Left to Fulfill Human Rights Promises," that focuses on four key areas of human rights relating to the Olympics: death penalty, detention without trial, human rights activists and media freedom.
As the one year countdown begins, time is running out for the Chinese government to fulfill its promise of promoting human rights as part of the Olympics legacy. China had agreed to improve its human rights record as a condition to receiving the bid, and our new report looks at China's progress toward its promised human rights improvements ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
For the report, see http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGUSA20070808002
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Question Submitted by Kathleen:
Is there any progress at all in halting the dreadful killings in Darfur?
Denise Bell and Amy O'Meara answers:
The situation in Darfur remains dire, and the progress in bringing security to the region is unacceptably slow, but there has been change. We would not be where we are today, with UN Security Council Resolution 1769 (passed on July 31, 2007) authorizing a hybrid UN-African Union force (UNAMID) for Darfur without the consistent and growing pressure from activists like you and the advocacy of Amnesty International and its 2.2 million members and supporters. You can read about our progress toward security, protection and humanitarian access for civilians in Darfur at http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1041028.
Unfortunately, our time is up for today, and looking at the queue we see there are so many good questions we were not able to answer. However, we will do out best to keep posting answers to these questions in the coming days. Please be sure to check the archives for additional questions and answers. Thanks to everyone who took the time to be with us on today’s chat. We sincerely hope that you will continue to raise awareness and take action to protect the people of Darfur using the variety of advocacy tools in Amnesty International‘s Darfur campaign. Please feel free to contact our corporate action network at any time if you need assistance developing an economic activism campaign in your community – corpaction@aiusa.org.
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