CONFLICT IN DARFUR, WESTERN SUDAN

Early day motion 293, tabled 16 December 2003 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House is gravely concerned at the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Western Sudan, where increasing insecurity has resulted in an alarming deterioration in the humanitarian and human rights situations, with an estimated 7,000 killings since the start of the conflict, 600,000 displaced, reports of widespread abuses against civilians, including rape and the burning and looting of entire villages, described by the UN as one of the world's worst humanitarian situations, with an estimated one million people affected by the current hostilities remaining beyond the reach of relief workers; calls on the UK Government to urge parties in the conflict immediately to stop all attacks against civilians, to pressurise the fighting parties to sign a humanitarian access agreement covering all areas of Darfur ensuring safe and unimpeded access, push for the finalising of an all inclusive ceasefire agreement including international monitoring of the agreement and strongly encourages all parties including the Sudan Liberation Army, Justice Equality Movement and Arab militias to join the peace talks in Chad; supports the International Crisis Group's call for the presence of a high level observer at the Chad negotiations to promote neutrality and transparency of the process; and urges the UK Government to pursue all diplomatic means to find a political solution to the conflict that takes into account human rights and humanitarian concerns to avoid the danger of an unresolved war in Darfur undermining any peace agreement and prospects for a lasting and sustainable peace in Sudan.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 11, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.