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• Graduate Minor in Human Rights • Human Rights Resources on the Web |
Waiting For the Birthday Girl
Ajak, a young girl who was kidnapped in South Sudan , celebrated her 2 nd birthday yesterday, January 14 th . She was absent, however, from the party in her honor, held by students and officials at the University of Minnesota. Ajak, and her sister Yar, are the nieces of a University of Minnesota student, and students and community members have come together to work towards a solution to this crisis. Yar and Ajak are two of hundreds of children in Sudan that have been abducted by armed groups and whose return the campaign has been advocating.
The birthday celebration was not so much a chance to eat cake and throw a party as much as an opportunity to further raise awareness of the situation in Sudan and help local activists build solidarity.
The group has been raising awareness and has been making progress lobbying to the government of Sudan . Robyn Skrebes, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota and chair of the student-led campaign against child abduction in South Sudan, said that there has been progress in how the government of Sudan is dealing with the armed groups that have abducted the children. She is very pleased about the recent adoption of more non-violent techniques in trying to work with the armed groups that have abducted the children.
SAVE YAR & AJAK ! Take Action to End Child Abductions in Southern Sudan
On October 3, 2007, Yar Mading, age 3 (pictured) and her sister, Ajak (1 1/2), were violently abducted from a family home in Jonglei State, Southern Sudan by gunmen from the Murle tribe. Yar and Ajak are the nieces of Gabriel Kou Solomon, a University of Minnesota graduate student. A report by the UN Secretary General in August 2007 held the Murle responsible for 40 child abductions in the past year. Please join Kou, his colleagues, Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Program in urging Southern Sudanese officials at the national and state level to negotiate with the Murle tribe for the peaceful, voluntary, and immediate release of Yar, Ajak, and any other children that have been abducted. TAKE ACTION TODAY! 1. Sign the online petition www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-yar 2. Contact South Sudan government officials
Sample message - Dear Sir: I have learned of the abduction of two very young girls, Yar and Ajak Aciek Mading, from Liliir village in Jonglei state on October 3. I am writing to urge you and Jonglei officials to promptly use your influence to negotiate with the Murle in Pibor for the peaceful, voluntary, and immediate release of Yar and Ajak and any other abducted children. This action will demonstrate to the world that the new nation of South Sudan protects its most vulnerable citizens and so deserves the world's support. Sincerely, 3. Pass this SAVE YAR & AJAK! action request to family, friends, colleagues Click here for a flyer to post at your workplace, school, church, local business or community center. ********** Media African News Journal ********** For up-to-date information and other calls to action for Yar and Ajak, |
Human Rights Program
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