Photo: © Ron Haviv/VII. viiphoto.

com
 A Note from Writer/Director Ted Braun
“We set out to make Darfur Now hoping that the film would either document the triumphs
of a group of people who brought an end to what the UN has called the worst humanitarian
and human rights crisis of the 21st century or that the film would itself help resolve the
tragedy by moving a worldwide audience to respond. I spent the first five months of 2007
in Sudan, most of that time in Darfur. Nothing was clearer than how much the people
there are counting on the international community to act on their behalf. For many of the
Darfuris I met, telling their stories to viewers around the world was a matter of life and
death. So I hope that once you’ve seen Darfur Now, and experienced the stories of the
people of Hamadea, El Geneina and the Jebel Marra, you’ll be moved to act. The subjects
of this film inspired my faith in the power of a single individual to change the world – I
trust they’ll inspire you too.”
© 2007 AIW Documentary, LLC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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Back Cover Photo: © Jane Evelyn Atwood/Contact Press Images. Darfur Now Title Graphic © 2007 AIW Documentary, LLC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

About the Film

With unprecedented access to the internally displaced people of Darfur, international aid workers, the Sudanese government and rebels, the
critically acclaimed documentary Darfur Now explores the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region through the experiences of six individuals
trying to stop the atrocities - Adam Sterling, a UCLA graduate working in Los Angeles; Hejewa Adam, a Darfuri woman who joins rebel
forces; Pablo Recalde, leader of the World Food Programme’s operations in West Darfur; Don Cheadle, the internationally known actor
and activist; Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Abakar, leader of a Darfuri displacement camp; and Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court in The Hague. For the first time in history the U.S. Government has declared a genocide while a conflict
is ongoing - but the people of Darfur continue to suffer. The struggles of these six individuals illuminate many aspects of this complex
catastrophe. Their achievements serve as a call to action for people everywhere to help end the crisis in Darfur.

Darfur Now addresses three important themes related to Amnesty International’s campaign to end the atrocities in Darfur and the region:
• Security: End violence against civilians and fully deploy United Nations-African Union peacekeepers in Darfur.
• Access: Secure full, unfettered access for humanitarian and human rights organizations to vulnerable civilians throughout the
Darfur region.
• Accountability: Bring perpetrators of human rights violations in Darfur to justice and support the International Criminal Court’s
investigation and prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
We urge you to see Darfur Now, engage in the issues the film raises, and join our campaign.

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 One great way to educate your fellow students and wider community is to organize a film
screening and discussion at your home, a classroom or a small community venue such as
a library or community center.
Useful Resources
Using this guide
Organize a house party
This guide is designed to be used by community groups, student groups, families and any and show the film. Visit
group (large or small) choosing to show the film and engage in a deeper discussion about www.amnestyusa.org/
human rights, armed conflict, Darfur, and the entire conflict region. This is a complicated
darfurnow for:
situation, and only by learning, understanding, mobilizing and acting will we see an end to
these egregious human rights abuses. • Additional tips on
After you watch the film, use the discussion starter questions in each thematic section organizing a house
to talk about the film and related issues with your group. Each section includes Amnesty party or other events
International research and information about the crisis­—use this information to clarify
questions and provide additional details to the group.
• 7 tips on organizing a
small film screening
Remember to have an action and a sign-up sheet available at your screening:

www.amnestyusa.org/darfurnow

Need help organizing or reaching out to your community, or just want some advice?
Amnesty International’s regional offices are here to help you!

Call toll free: 1.866.AREGION (1.866.273.4466)

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Photo: ©
Scott La
ngley Since 2003, Amnesty International activists have been taking action, raising
awareness and making a difference in the Darfur region. Millions of actions
have been taken by Amnesty International activists to support the people
of Darfur. Check out the progress Amnesty activists around the world have
helped achieve:

• In announcing the Chadian government’s decision to reverse policy and allow

in international peacekeepers to protect displaced persons in Chad, the Chadian
Ambassador to the U.S. publicly credited Amnesty activists and their petitions,
postcards and letters as contributing to CHAD’s decision. At a press conference in
Washington the Ambassador held up a large pile of activists’ letters, faxes and emails to
illustrate his point.

• The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 470 in April 2008 and the House
of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 1011 in May 2008, both calling for security
and assistance for vulnerable civilians in Chad and the Central African Republic, as well as Darfur.

• The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1769 in late July 2007, authorizing a 26,000-member
UN-African Union peacekeeping mission with a mandate to protect civilians in Darfur. As we go to press in
spring 2008, about 10,500 of these personnel have deployed to Darfur.

• The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1778 in September 2007, authorizing a UN mission of several
hundred personnel to support a European Union peacekeeping mission of several thousand in Chad and the Central
African Republic. As of spring 2008, most of the UN and about half of the European Union personnel have deployed.

Check the AIUSA website weekly for new action opportunities at www.amnestyusa.org/darfurnow

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 In February 2003, two opposition groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attacked
government troops to protest the government of Sudan’s failure to protect local villagers from attacks by nomadic groups and economic
marginalization of the region. In March 2003 the government of Sudan responded with military force, including arming a proxy militia called
the Janjawid.

The conflict in Darfur has led to some of the worst human rights abuses imaginable, including systematic and widespread murder, torture,
rape, abduction, looting and forced displacement. Homes and entire villages have been burned to the ground, and theft and deliberate
destruction of crops and cattle have been rampant. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed. Some 2.6 million Darfuri civilians
have been displaced, including 240,000 documented refugees in eastern Chad. Some 170,000 Chadian civilians have also been displaced.
Over 4 million civilians – two-thirds of the entire population of Darfur – have been affected by the conflict. All parties to the conflict, including
the SLA and other rebel groups, have committed human rights abuses, but the Sudanese government and the government-backed Janjawid
bear primary responsibility for systematic and widespread human rights violations.

The Darfur conflict has spilled over into eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic (CAR), inflaming already-existing instability
in each country. As in Darfur, systematic human rights abuses have been carried out in eastern Chad and northeastern CAR,
including killing, torture, rape, abduction, forced displacement, looting and destruction of property. The civilian population
of eastern Chad has suffered an escalating number of deliberate, targeted attacks. Entire villages have
been pillaged and destroyed and their inhabitants forcibly displaced. The climate of insecurity is
heightening ethnic tensions between communities.

For more information: www.amnestyusa.org/darfurnow

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Discussion starters Why is access crucial?

In many areas, roads are under the control of government armed forces, Janjawid and
1. Why do you think it
other armed groups, such as bandits, who often establish checkpoints where they extort
is so dangerous to money from travelers.
deliver convoys of
supplies to refugee and Humanitarian aid agencies are under daily threat. In the first four months of 2008 alone,
displacement camps? armed assailants hijacked 60 trucks of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). The
increasing insecurity has also meant that some UN agencies and local and international
2. Based on what you non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been unable to reach refugees and internally
saw in the film, why displaced persons (IDPs) or have had to be relocated due to threat of attack.
has deployment of UNAMID (United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur) deployment has been slow and
peacekeepers taken so under-resourced. As of spring 2008, only some 10,500 personnel are on the ground. Air
long? What should the and ground transport equipment and supplies are inadequate, and the government of Sudan
international community continually erects obstacles to deployment as well as to humanitarian assistance. Full
be doing to speed up deployment of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur is not expected to reach completion
deployment? until early 2009.

3. How can we help to

protect women and
girls from acts of
sexual violence?

Photo © 2007 AIW Documentary, LLC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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 What are the Barriers to Safety? Discussion starters
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have died as a result of the Darfur conflict, and over
1. Based on what you saw in
2.6 million Darfuris have been displaced. Civilians have become victims of egregious
human rights violations, primarily at the hands of pro-government Janjawid militia and the
the film, what challenges
government of Sudan, but rebel groups have also perpetrated killings, rape, looting and do women face living in
abductions. a refugee or internally
displaced persons camp?
Gender-based violence has characterized the conflict in Darfur, putting women
and girls at particular risk of harm. All sides have used rape to shame and destroy 2. Why does security directly
communities, assert power and terrorize local populations. Travel around contribute to the protection
displaced persons camps and settlements is extremely dangerous for women of human rights? How
and girls, who are at constant risk of rape when they venture
is the right to physical
outside for firewood, water or food. Although most
survivors of rape accuse Janjawid militia, there are
integrity violated by
also reports of rape being committed by members individuals, soldiers, rebels
of the Sudanese army, the police and armed or others shown in the film?
opposition groups. Women have also reported
that they are sometimes raped by displaced
3. What can activists in the
men inside the camps. U.S. do to help increase
security for civilians in the
The region is awash with weapons, leading Darfur region?
to a complete deterioration in security. Where
available, weapons are cheap – in some 4. Why would a human
displacement camps, a revolver can be bought rights organization want to
for $25. engage with a company or
investment house?

Photo © 2007 AIW Documentary, LLC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

The proliferation of weapons contributes to incidents of theft and assault, as well as to political tensions. A generation of young people
growing up in camps and settlements, many without school, without opportunities for work, without knowing the meaning of a secure home,
are at risk of recruitment as child soldiers by various armed groups. Of the more than 4 million people affected by the conflict in Darfur,
1.8 million are children under 18. About 1 million are displaced children.

Economic activism
Given the government of Sudan’s dependency on oil revenue to fuel and sustain its growth,
the government has been particularly sensitive to economic pressure.

Economic activism on Sudan is one strategy to press for deployment of the peacekeeping
forces. No single strategy on its own will work, and economic activism can be used, alongside
political activism, targeting international leaders and the Sudanese government.

Over its history, Amnesty International has taken a neutral stance on divestment (selling off
resources invested in a company), and has instead recommended alternatives, in particular
engagement and shareholder activism (using financial ownership as leverage with a company).
In the case of Sudan, we maintain this neutral position, and are working to build economic
pressure on the government of Sudan.

For more information: www.amnestyusa.org/darfurnow

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 How can perpetrators in Darfur be held accountable?
On June 1, 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor opened an investigation Discussion starters
into the crimes committed in Darfur. On April 27, 2007, the ICC issued two arrest warrants-
against government minister Ahmad Muhammad Harun (Ahmad Harun) and Janjawid 1. ICC Prosecutor, Moreno-
militia leader Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb). On September 14, 2007, Ocampo says, “The
INTERPOL (the International Criminal Police Organization) issued Red Notices for Harun truth will prevail.”
and Kushayb, circulating the warrants to national police forces around the world to alert What obstacles has the
them of Harun’s and Kushayb’s status as international fugitives, and requesting that they Prosecutor encountered in
be arrested with a view to their surrender to the ICC.
bringing the perpetrators to
Ahmad Harun (now State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs at the time of publication), is justice?
charged with 42 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed
between August 2003 and March 2004, including persecution, murder 2. What is the rule of law,
and forcible transfer. Janjawid leader Ali Kushayb is charged with 50 and why is the rule of law
counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between important?
August 2003 and March 2004, including persecution, murder, attacks
against the civilian population and forcible transfer. 3. Moreno-Ocampo is using
what tools to build his
The ICC has no police force with which to execute warrants and therefore case?
needs to rely on the cooperation of states to apprehend suspects. The
government of Sudan has, however, refused to surrender Harun and 4. How can the international
Kushayb to the Court. community support
To download the INTERPOL Notices for Harun enforcement of the arrest
and Kushayb: www.amnestyusa/darfurnow. warrants?
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For teachers, students and educators:

Amnesty International USA’s curriculum guide on Darfur: www.amnestyusa.org/darfurnow

Looking for more reports or research?

amnestyusa.org/darfur

For more information about Amnesty International or Participant Media, see:

www.amnestyusa.org www.participantmedia.com

Photo © WFP/Marcus Prior

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 Darfur Now won the 2007 NAACP Image Award for best documentary, was named one of 2007’s top five
documentaries by the National Board of Review; was nominated for best documentary by the Broadcast Film
Critics Association (Critics Choice Awards), the Chicago Film Critics Society, the San Francisco Film Critics
Circle, and the International Press Academy; and was nominated for best documentary editing of 2007 by the
American Cinema Editors. The International Documentary Association awarded writer/director Ted Braun the
2007 Emerging Filmmaker of the Year for his work writing and directing the film. Amnesty International is proud
to support this important film.

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Guide publication date: May 2008