wfn.org | UCC Darfur Needs to be on Canada Election Agenda

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

For Immediate Release -- Tuesday, January 17, 2006

DARFUR NEEDS TO BE ON ELECTION AGENDA
Politicians reminded by faith leaders of Canada's obligation to the
people of Sudan

Toronto: As Canada's political parties enter the final week of the
election campaign, a group of faith leaders has raised the issue of
Sudan as a concern they believe politicians should pay close attention
to as they try to convince voters that their party should form the next
government.

In a letter sent yesterday to all four party leaders, leaders from more
than a dozen different faith groups, including The United Church of
Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and the
Vedanta Hindu Society of Toronto, called on the Canadian government "to
include Darfur at the top of its international policy agenda, and take
actions that would be effective in bringing peace and security to the
people there."

By choosing to send the letter in the midst of the election campaign the
faith leaders wanted to focus the politicians' attention on the need "to
develop action to assist the suffering and vulnerable people in Darfur,
Sudan.

"Canadians are looking to our political leaders to continue taking
steps, unilaterally, bilaterally, and multilaterally, to protect
communities under threat, boldly work with others to resolve the
conflict, and restore peace and safety to the people of Darfur," the
faith leaders say in their letter.

Wendy Gichuru is The United Church of Canada's Program Coordinator for
East and Central Africa. She says the current election campaign needs to
focus on international issues as well as our domestic concerns like tax
cuts, health care, and crime.

Gichuru says that no matter which party forms the next government, "All
our political leaders have an obligation to share with voters
information about how they plan to further increase Canada's already
significant contributions to supporting humanitarian and relief efforts
in Darfur, Sudan."

For further information, please contact:
Mary-Frances Denis
Communications Officer
The United Church of Canada
416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)

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