GI-NET/SDC WELCOMES UN SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION OF A LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE

(Washington, DC) – The Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition (GI-NET / SDC) welcomed the United Nations Security Council vote today authorizing a no-fly zone and other actions to protect civilians in Libya (Resolution #1973). Reports from the country indicate that more than a thousand people have died and a quarter of a million have been displaced since Gaddafi’s forces responded violently to pro-democracy protests in mid-February.

"Authorization of a no-fly zone and passage of such a robust Security Council resolution just thirty days after violence broke out in Libya are encouraging signs that the international community has recognized its responsibility to protect civilians from large-scale deliberate violence," stated Mark Hanis, President of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition. "It is now critical to implement the Security Council resolution quickly to prevent widespread violence against civilians as Qaddafi troops advance on Benghazi, and to cut off the regime’s ability to access funds."

GI-NET / SDC first called on the United States to work with the UN Security Council to authorize a no-fly zone on February 22. GI-NET / SDC has also called for the creation of a mandatory Libya Recovery Fund that would hold all Libyan oil export revenues in escrow to prevent Libya’s oil wealth to be used to fund violence against civilians. The funds would be held in escrow until an internationally recognized post-Qaddafi government was in place.

###

The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged on November 1, 2010 to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma.  The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors with over $700 billion in assets under management.