It was only a few months ago that the Ask The Candidates was out in Iowa, demanding to know what the presidential candidates would do to end genocide and caucusing for Darfur.  Though the Iowa caucus was back in January, the process in Iowa is actually not over yet.  This weekend, the final Iowa delegates will be chosen at the state conventions. In addition to choosing delegates, part of the caucus process also includes choosing a state platform for each party.  The platforms are a means for parties to state their positions and philosophies on various issues.  As a swing state, Senators McCain and Obama will spend a great deal of time campaigning in Iowa and will be very interested in the content of the parties' state platforms. 

This weekend, at the state convention, the five districts in Iowa will present their decided platforms and a coherent state platform will be determined.  Darfur has been made a priority by all five Democratic districts (we are hoping to hear from the Republican districts very soon).

Statements from the five district platforms include the following:

  • "Strong action in concert with the international community to end the genocide in Darfur and work for a fair and lasting peace."
  • "We support...robust world efforts to prevent and end genocide [and] rapid international peacekeeping intervention in armed conflicts."
  • "We support...ending genocide in Darfur and elsewhere, including the use of targeted sanctions and a full-time diplomatic team in the region and quick response to future genocide."
  • "We believe the US in cooperation with the international community should take decisive action to end genocide and human rights violations in Darfur and throughout the world."
  • "Support U.S. cooperation with the international community to impose targeted sanctions on any government official or faction leader who commits atrocities, impedes the peace process, or obstructs the deployment of a peacekeeping force in Darfur."

Thanks to everyone who has worked relentlessly to bring Darfur and genocide to the forefront of the campaign in Iowa and throughout the country!  Let's continue to make this an issue in the national campaign and ensure that the next president will end the atrocities being committed in Darfur!