As a democratic nation supporting human and civil rights, we would be nothing less than hypocrites if we stood by and did nothing.

State Rep. Tamara Grigsby and others spoke Tuesday at a symposium titled Darfur: Rape as a Weapon of War, and said the atrocities taking place in the western Sudanese region should not be ignored.

Beginning in February 2003, citizens of Darfur have been exposed to the rape, murder and torture of their people at the hands of government-sponsored militias. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such devastating effects on innocent people.

Over 400,000 deaths have occurred to date. Rapes and other sexual assaults are occurring daily and sexual slavery on women is increasing, said Grigsby.

One proposed response to the violence in Darfur is through the Sudan Divestment Bill, which is now in the hands of the Wisconsin legislature. Grigsby is a co-sponsor of the bill that would prohibit state investment into foreign companies who fund the genocide in Darfur.

As a democratic nation supporting human and civil rights, we would be nothing less than hypocrites if we stood by and did nothing, said Grigsby. We can either be silent, or we can stand up and be heard.

Other speakers who were present at Tuesdays meeting include associate professor Carol Stabile and Masters candidate Angela McManaman, members of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department.

Stabiles emphasis was directed toward rape and how the main threat comes from an Arab militia called the Janjaweed. The Janjaweed are militiamen who assert their dominance on Darfurs innocent women and girls, mainly between the ages of 12 to 45.

Men control these women in a basic way, through rape. It is nothing less than an assault on these people and breaks the bonds between families, Stabile said.

Islamic law states it is illegal to be raped. Many women do not report their attacks for fear of being divorced by their husbands or shunned by their village and people.

Women are made to think it is their fault, said McManaman. They committed the crime and should have to pay a price.

Eighty-two percent of accounts are recorded when women or young girls are out gathering firewood, water, food or planting crops, receiving the title the firewood rapes. Women have stopped providing for their families in fear of being attacked. Lack of nutrition is increasing the death rate and outside aid from the United Nations non-governmental organizations is no longer permitted.

My challenge to you is help others, said Grigsby. Educate others on this issue; help others to understand the crisis that we face so we can end this genocide.

By Megan Reinertson

Special to the Post

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