Commission Issues New Recommendations, Holds Press Conference on Sudan

Apr 16, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WHAT:The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will hold a press conference to release its new recommendations on promoting religious freedom in Sudan. Repeating its view that Sudan is "the world's most violent abuser of the right to freedom of religion and belief," the Commission will call on the Bush administration and Congress to step up efforts to help end that country's 18-year civil war. The fighting has killed some 2 million people and displaced 4 million others. Commissioner David Saperstein will conduct the press conference.

WHEN:Wednesday, March 21, 2001 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 790 (USCIRF office)

BACKGROUND:In its latest report, the Commission finds that since last May, the government of Sudan has intensified the deliberate air raids on civilian and humanitarian targets. While the Clinton Administration did take some steps to address the situation, including successfully working to prevent Sudan from taking a seat at the UN Security Council and earmarking aid to communities in southern Sudan and to the political opposition - the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - these actions fell well short of the comprehensive, sustained campaign that the Commission believes is commensurate with the Sudanese government's abuses. The Commission will urge the Bush Administration to mount such a campaign. Copies of the report will be available at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 and can be obtained by contacting the Commission's communications department at (202) 523-3240. The report can also be found on the Commission's Web site at www.uscirf.gov.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

 

 

 

Hon. Elliott Abrams,Chair

  • Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, Vice Chair, Rabbi David Saperstein, Laila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. Bolton, Dean Michael K. Young, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, Nina Shea, Justice Charles Z. Smith, Ambassador Robert Seiple, Ex-Officio, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director