Ann Curry - The Journalist

Ann Curry, who for the past four years has used her position as an influential reporter for NBC to cover the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, is a villager at heart. She has reported on rape and sexual violence against Darfuri women, interviewed survivors and drawn attention to the fact that, despite having borne and seen unbelievable horrors, these women continue to sustain their families and provide leadership in their communities.







Without reporters like Ann Curry we wouldn't hear much from the ground in Sudan. Perhaps equally importantly, though, networks won't spend time, money and resources on issues they think people don't care about. "No news" is not good news for those on the ground. Please contact Dateline NBC at dateline@nbcuni.com and ask the producers to run a special on violence against women in Darfur and to continue to amplify the voices of Sudanese women striving for peace.

Good News Tuesday: Zeinab Eyega - The Immigrant Advocate

President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize this year. There is no question that America's standing in the world is better since Obama took over the presidency from George W. Bush. That being said ... the Obama administration has not been very visible in efforts to end the crisis in Darfur. That is one of the reasons that this blog continues to point out some powerful examples of people that are working hard to save Darfur.

Today we honor Zeinab Eyega, the founder of the Sauti Yetu Center for African Women. Born in southern Sudan, Zeinab has advocated for African women immigrants since she immigrated to the US herself. In 2008 alone, Sauti Yetu, a small organization, helped 165 women who spoke 57 African languages to successfully access and work with social services agencies in New York City. As a board member of the Save Darfur Coalition, Zeinab works to end the crisis in Darfur by organizing advocacy events and sharing her knowledge with others.

I encourage villagers to connect with a refugee assistance organization near your home or the Sudanese Diaspora group in your area. Don't see your city or state on the list? Connect with the Save Darfur Regional Organizer for your area.

What say u?

Refugees International Fights Sexual Violence in Sudan

Soulclap to Save Darfur for highling the work of Refugees International (RI). RI is known for their tireless advocacy on behalf of displaced people in crisis areas worldwide, and their incredible work to combat sexual violence in Sudan.

In 2007, RI released a report on how Sudanese law negatively affects rape survivors - detailing barriers to justice that many Darfuri women face and the immunity from prosecution their attackers frequently enjoy. RI's continuing dedication to ensuring lifesaving services and lasting solutions for displaced people, and their unique emphasis on displaced women, has made them one of the most impressive groups working for women in Sudan today.

Save Darfur joins RI in bringing attention to the unacceptable situation in Sudan. Save Darfur folks put together a collection of recent resources and reports related to sexual violence. Due to the barriers the Sudanese government continues to construct for human rights organizations, gathering information for these reports is a labor-intensive, difficult and often dangerous process. Yet each report provides an invaluable perspective on and analysis of conditions on the ground, as well as diplomatic and humanitarian steps that must be taken to address them. In the realm of advocacy, knowledge truly is power.