SYMPOSIUM: Women and Genocide in the 21st Century
Women and Genocide in the 21st Century: The Case of Darfur
Saturay, October 27 - Sunday, October 28
For the past 3 years, the Darfur Women's Action Group (DWAG) has been working with its allies to bring attention to the magnitude of genocide in Darfur and its impact on women. It has been educating the public about these issues, thus empowering survivors to bring their voices to international and regional forums.
This October 27th and 28th , the Darfur Women's Action Group, along with its activist supporters, students, numerous experts on genocide and women's issues and celebrities from all over the United States, will come together to combine their words with action. By addressing genocide and its impact on women, we will define challenges and develop strategies for ending violence against women and the use of rape as a weapon of war. Empowering affected communities, achieving meaningful inclusion and justice for victims and influencing effective policy reforms that can bring a sustainable end to genocide in the 21st century is our goal.
LEARN from experts about genocide in Darfur. You will learn about the current situation in Sudan with particular focus on its impact on women. Find out what you can do to help affected communities stand up for themselves and demand change from their leaders at home and internationally.
BE INSPIRED by stories of courage and resilience from witnesses and survivors. Become empowered with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in your community and in the lives of your sisters in Darfur.
TAKE INITIATIVE This national action symposium is dedicated to educate you in becoming a leading voice in your communities and schools. Your leaders are mandated by international treaties to act responsibly to end genocide and to protect the rights of women. Bring your ideas, add your voice, help the affected communities overcome their challenges, build strategies for sustainable change and share what you witnessed with your local and international leaders and with your communities.
ACT Tell the Secretary of State and the UN to lead the effort to protect and empower women; bring justice to the victims and put the tools and mechanisms in place to end the genocide in Darfur and wherever it occurs.
ADD YOUR VOICE Support DWAG's mission to mobilize, educate, engage and empower women. Influence policy makers and your elected officials to prioritize women's empowerment and ending genocide.
TAKE HOME strategies for women's empowerment and sustainable change in Sudan. Subsequent to the Conference, minutes will be documented, published and shared with government officials and other important organizations to be used as an educational tool. You can input your ideas and receive a copy for yourself!
ENJOY AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENING The first ever “Midnight Child” concert for women's empowerment with artist and composer Mark Kostabi, musicians Paul Kostabi, Mariam Amo, a prominent female singer from Darfur and many distinguished Sudanese musicians who have availed themselves to support women genocide survivors to restore their dignity and build their societies.
JOIN US We are building a global alliance with a common purpose: to fight genocide and work for women's empowerment, not only in Darfur, but everywhere in the world. Together we have the power to end genocide for the women of Sudan. We hope you'll join us this October!
Registration
WHAT: Women and Genocide in the 21st Century, a National action Symposium Offered to you by Darfur Women Action Group and its partners: Citywide Computer Training Center, and other supporters.
WHO: You and hundreds of anti-genocide activists, women's rights advocates, celebrities (actresses, artists and musicians working for human rights), women survivors, experts, concerned leaders, and anyone who seeks to be educated on these issues to make a difference
WHEN:
Saturday, October 27 - Speakers & Panel DIscussions, Documentary Screening, Advocacy Training
Evening of October 27 - Concert for Women's Empowerment featuring "Midnight Child" and Sudanese musicians
Sunday, October 28 [optional] - Strategizing Session with Sudanese Diaspora and activists
WHERE: George Washington University– Funger Hall, Room 108
2201 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052
REGISTRATION FEES:
Students: $25
Non-Students: $60
Registration for the concert is free!
[Light lunch will be served, as well as a Dinner with our musicians and artists]
*Financial Aid available for the first 200 students, volunteers and those in the Sudanese diaspora, please email info@darfurwomenaction.org for more information
Speakers
Maria Bello, Actress and Women's Rights Activist, Los Angeles, CA
Emira Woods, Director of Foreign Policy in focus, Institute of Policy studies
Dr. Asiya Daoud, Middle East expert , School of International Service , American University
Niemat Ahmadi, Founder of Darfur Women Action Group , Director of the Global Partnerships for United to End Genocide
Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court , Invited
Hamwa Mohamed Abdalla, Darfuri Women Survivor from Houston TX will be testifying
Khalid Gerais: Sudanese Human Rights Activist , Nubia Project
Sulieman Baldo, International Center for Transitional Justice
Hashim Hassan, Human rights activist, Nuba Mountains
Megan Corrado, Public International Law and Policy Group
Zubeida Ibrahim, Darfuri Survivor, testifying on behalf of the refugees in Chad
Mary Greene, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Women's Network, GWWN, an affiliate of the National Association for Female Executives, NAFE
William Deng, President of the South Sudan Project
Carol Buller-Bate, Women Empowering Women, DWAG Project
Kathryn Cameron
Speaker from Malam Darfur
Agenda
Saturday, October 27th
8:30am – 4:00pm [plenary and panel sessions]
Sunday, October 28th (optional)
9:00am – 1:00pm [strategizing sessions with the Sudanese Diaspora and Sudan activists]
Monday, October 30th - delivering our petition to Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton
(optional)
Plenary and Panel Sessions: Learn from distinguished experts about why genocide still exists in the 21st century. You will learn of the suffering, the strength and the resilience of women in the face of genocide. Through survivor testimonies, we will witness the consequences of this atrocity and what needs to be done to end it sustainably forever.
Speakers: Opening Plenary sessions and panel discussions will feature genocide survivors and witnesses, distinguished experts on genocide and women's issues, policy makers and prominent leaders. Click here to see a list of confirmed speakers.
The panelists will also address the importance of justice for victims of genocide and gender-based violence. We will explore the best strategies and practices for women's inclusion and quality capacity-building in order to overcome the consequences of war, restore women's dignity and enable them to effectively contribute to the rebuilding of their communities.
Training session: Skills-Building and advocacy training where you will utilize what you learned in the panel sessions (details will be available soon).
Our Interactive approach: as a participant you will be invited to contribute to our discussions and bring your ideas to our forum. Your expertise will be added to our strategies.
LUNCH AND DOCUMENTARY: an authentic Sudanese lunch with be accompanied by a documentary screening of “Women Healing the World” by French Hollywood filmmaker, Emanuel Itier.
Women's Empowerment Concert: “Midnight Child” Concert by Mark Kostabi; Paul Kostabi; Darfuri and Sudanese musicians will enliven the evening of the symposium with a performance that you won't want to miss!
Sudanese Strategizing Session (optional): DWAG, distinguished experts, Sudanese from various regions of Sudan and their American supporters will come together to develop strategies and advocacy plans for sustainable change in Sudan. The DC-based “women empowering women initiative” will also share their story and their model for women's empowerment.
Travel and Lodging
George Washington University Funger Hall, Room 108
2201 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052~ CLICK FOR A MAP TO THE LOCATION
To book a room at a discount rate or if you are a student and would like to arrange a dorm-share, contact us at info@darfurwomenaction.org.
Take the advantage of the early registration and room booking discounts!
If you have any special skills that will make our conference successful, please email info@darfurwomenaction.org.