PARTNERS FOR GLOBAL CHANGE: Listen to a conference call on the ICC/Bashir Indictment - Take Action!

The March/April 2009 - Partners Call & Project:

Lobby for a renewed U.S. / ICC relationship

+ Download the ICC letter for lobbying here

About the March/April Topic:

Over the years, many people have wondered whether Article 16 (Deferral of Investigation) of the Rome Statute should be invoked in the case of Sudan, for fear that putting out arrest warrants on war criminals like Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir would jeapordize humanitarian workers as well as possible peace agreements. However, the U.S., Britain and France, as members of the U.N. Security Council, have repeatedly disagreed, and rightfully so. As the ICC prepares to release the arrest warrant for Bashir, our Speaker, Niemat Ahmadi, will talk about why the Darfuri people need the justice and accountability the ICC can provide.

Following Ms. Ahmadi's account, Don Kraus will speak on the importance of U.S./ ICC engagement.

Here's Niemat Ahmadi's reaction to the Bashir arrest warrant released on March 4th:

Speakers:

Niemat Ahmadi - Darfur Liason Officer, Save Darfur

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A native of North Darfur, Niemat Ahmadi promotes cooperation between the coalition and the Darfuri diaspora within the United States and abroad. She is a founding member of the Darfuri Leaders Network, a coalition of 23 domestic Darfuri organizations working to promote peace and security in Darfur. Ms. Ahmadi focuses on the role of Darfuri women in the peace process. She was an advisor at the seventh round of inter-Sudanese Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria.

Long-time human rights advocate, Ms. Ahmadi worked in the field of development, with special focus on women’s empowerment and capacity-building, formation and consolidation of the community based organizations in North Darfur with Oxfam Great Britain, Intermediate Technology Development Group and in the field of emergency with the United Nation’s World Food Program. She also served as an executive member of the Darfur Assessment Mission, a consortium of six Sudanese non-governmental organizations in Khartoum, Sudan. Ms. Ahmadi led the Darfur Diaspora Association of East Africa in Kenya.

Ms. Ahmadi earned an M.S. in Sustainable Development and a B.A. in Psychology and Pre-school Education from Ahfad University for Women in Khartoum.

Don Kraus - CEO, Citizens for Global Solutions

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Don Kraus is the Chief Executive Officer of Citizens for Global Solutions and co-chair of the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping (PEP), an NGO working group. Previously, Don served as the Executive Vice President at Citizens for Global Solutions, where he directed the Government Relations Department and the Political Action Committee. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Campaign for UN Reform (CUNR) and its affiliated political action committee, CUNR PAC.

An expert in building U.S. legislative and government support for the UN, Don brings his considerable enthusiasm and drive to lobbying and electioneering. Don compiles the Global Solution Report Card, an annual assessment of congressional voting records. He has been quoted in the NY Times, the Washington Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and many other publications. He has been interviewed on CNN, BBC, NPR, and many other radio and TV shows. Don is also the past president emeritus of the Center for UN Reform Education, a UN reform think tank. He currently serves on the advisory board of the United Nations Association, National Capitol Area.

Listen to the March/April Conference Call:

Track List:	5: ICC/Bashir Indictment Interview - Pt IV
1: Don's Updates on CGS Topics	6: Audience Questions & Answers - Pt I
2: ICC/Bashir Indictment Interview - Pt I	7: Audience Questions & Answers - Pt II
3: ICC/Bashir Indictment Interview - Pt II	8: March/April 2009 Partners Project
4: ICC/Bashir Indictment Interview - Pt III	9: Final Q&A and Wrap-Up

March/April Project:

Lobby for a renewed U.S./ICC relationship

The U.S. can make a powerful statement about our renewed commitment to international justice by taking a seat at the Assembly of State Parties this year and re-signing the Rome Statute. Aided by the International Criminal Court's recent achievements in putting to trial Ugandan warlords and releasing an arrest warrant for Sudanese President al-Bashir, you can do your part in convincing the administration to re-engage with the ICC by lobbying your elected officials.

The violence in Darfur has stretched on for decades and the ICC's expected arrest of Bashir will mark serious progress towards peace in Sudan. The U.S. must recognize the ICC as the international institution for justice and must get involved in the process. Now, while the issue is hot, is the time to act.

Some of our Global Partners will be lobbying on US/ICC engagement with us in Washington, DC on March 19 as participants in our Annual Meeting and Conference, but we urge those of you who will not be in DC to lobby elected officials in your hometown. Here's how to make it happen:

1. Contact your elected officials to set up a meeting.

Use the following link (congressmerge) to figure out who your elected officials are and how to contact them: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm . When your elected officials are displayed on the screen, click on a name to get information on where the official's local office is located, as well as a phone number and an email address to use when requesting a meeting. Address all voicemails and emails to the official's scheduler, listed at the bottom of the official's congressmerge web page.

Unless you schedule your meeting during a Congressional recess, it is likely that you will be meeting a staffer at the local office. Do not be discouraged! If 10 citizen lobbyists show up to the local office and make a strong case, the staffer will definitely report it to the elected official.

2. Prepare your case.

Using what you already know, what you learned on this Partners Call, and more detailed information that can be found on our ICC web page (www.globalsolutions.org/icc), put together your talking points. These should include:

- a brief statement on what the ICC is and does

- a statement on the history of the United States and the ICC (Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute in support of the Court, then George Bush "un-signed" the Statute, which is where we stand now)

- the notable achievements of the ICC, including the first indictment of a head of state, President al-Bashir

- why the U.S. should support the ICC again

- HOW the U.S. can support the ICC again (take a seat at the Assembly of State Parties, re-sign the Rome Statute)

3. Gather the troops and go lobby!

Try to get as many people as possible to join you for your lobby meeting; elected officials care about keeping constituents happy - the more the better. Arrive for your meeting early, but don't be surprised if the staffer or official you are meeting with is late. When it comes time to sit down and talk, be patient and listen, but don't let the official or staffer run the whole show - it's YOUR visit! You are there to let them know that U.S. engagement with the ICC is important to you, so try to stick to the issue and stay on message. If at all possible, try to get the official to promise that he/she will work towards getting the U.S. to sit at the Assembly of State Parties and that they will let the administration know that their constituents insist that the US re-sign the Rome Statute. Lastly, don't forget to follow up with a thank-you note!

Constituent lobbyists make a huge difference in dictating which issues an official will pursue and how they will pursue them. When you lobby on an issue you deeply care about, you are exercising your unique rights as an American citizen - your opinions matter and you can make an impact!

+Download the March/April Partner Toolkit Here

+Download the ICC letter for lobbying here

+Download the ICC factsheet here

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