Hon Tim Watts MP
PO Box 6022,
House of Representatives,
Parliament House,
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Hon Tim Watts MP,
I write with deep concern about the developments in Sudan over the last year. As of the latest New Weapons Fuelling The Sudan Conflict Amnesty report, the conflict has resulted in over 16,650 deaths, making it one of the deadliest in recent history. Furthermore, this violence has displaced over 10 million people, creating the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
Recent investigations by Amnesty International have uncovered that the conflict is being exacerbated by a continuous flow of advanced military equipment and small arms into Sudan. These weapons are not only fuelling the conflict but also enabling serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, including war crimes.
In light of these grave developments, it is imperative that Australia takes a leadership role in addressing this catastrophe. With so many lives at stake, it is clear that urgent action is needed to prevent further atrocities and loss of life. As my representative in Parliament I urge you to call for:
- An increase in humanitarian aid for those who have sought refuge in Sudan's neighbouring countries, as well as for internally displaced individuals, especially women and girls who are vulnerable to sexual violence.
- Australia to work with other donor countries to scale up humanitarian assistance, including through local Emergency Response Rooms and other mutual aid groups led by Sudanese civilians.
- Australia to call on the United Nations Security Council to extend the existing arms embargo to cover the whole country, not only to the Darfur region, ensuring its full implementation to disrupt the flow of weapons and reduce civilian suffering.
- Demand Sudan’s regional and international partners to pressure the warring parties to protect civilians and allow unhindered humanitarian access. The international community has not exerted sufficient pressure on the warring parties to stop violating the human rights of people caught up in this war. The African Union, in particular, has not displayed the required level of leadership, nor taken concrete actions that match the scale and gravity of the conflict.
- Support evidence collection, documentation efforts, and accountability measures in Sudan including through the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, the International Criminal Court, and any future credible accountability process within Sudan.
As my elected representative, I implore you to do all you can to ensure Australia does everything in its power to protect civilian lives by taking swift action to increase humanitarian assistance, support accountability measures, and call for a stop to the flow of deadly arms into Sudan.
Thank you for considering this urgent appeal.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]