Outline and Summary

The Darfur Crisis as a Case of Genocide

The Darfur crisis is an armed conflict in the region of western Sudan (Africa). It began in July 2003 and is still occurring nowadays. The crisis is principally between the Janjaweed, a militia group, and the Sudanese population. The Sudanese government gave weapons and support and contributed in attacks led by the Janjaweed, targeting ethnic groups in Darfur. Civilians are raped, deported and killed because of who they are. The real problem is that the international community spent a lot of time deciding whether the crisis should be called a genocide or not. During that time, nobody was helping in Darfur and thousands of people were dying.

I will examine and analyse the characteristics of a genocide based on the UN Genocide Convention, the Public International Law and scholarly articles in order to demonstrate that the Darfur crisis is indeed a genocide and I will also make suggestions as to what can be done in order to help the population in Darfur.

I. Characteristics of a genocide

A. The Genocide Convention: Criteria
1. Killings
2. Wounds
3. Creation of bad conditions of life
4. Sterilization
5. Trading of children

B. The Public International Law
1. International humanitarian law
2. Human rights law

C. Definitions provided by scholars
1. Ethnic cleansing
2. Humanitarian crisis

II. Darfur crisis a genocide?

A. Positions of non-governmental organisations
1. Amnesty International: Humanitarian Crisis
2. Human Rights Watch: Ethnic Cleansing

B. Positions of a governmental organisation and two governments
1. The United Nations: Humanitarian Crisis
2. Government of Canada: Massive Violations of Human Rights
3. Government of the United States: Genocide

III. Ways to help out

A. Participation of a non-governmental organisation and two governments
1. International Committee of the Red Cross
2. Government of Canada
3. Government of the United-States (helped by the United Nations)

B. Citizenship Participation
1. Sending letters
2. Organizing local groups
3. Sending money