For over five years, the most notorious genocide of the twenty-first century has devastated millions of non-combatant civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan. The government of Sudan continues to send its troops and Janjaweed (”devils on horseback”) proxy militias to systematically destroy the livelihoods of Darfurians by bombing and burning villages, looting economic resources, and committing crimes against humanity such as murdering, raping, and torturing non-combatant civilians. Intransigence on the part of the Sudanese government prevents the international community from independently verifying mortality statistics, yet most international agencies state that more than 200,000 civilians have died due to violence, malnutrition and disease. A further 2.2 million people have been displaced within Sudan, with an additional 250,000 crossing the border into Chad. The United Nations Mission in Sudan states that in 2007 alone, at least 250,000 Darfurians were displaced. Learn more.

The Genocide Intervention Network exists to empower individuals with the tools to prevent and stop genocide. One of these tools has repurposed an old technology — the toll free phone number — and paired it with the latest technology in automated telephone services to launch a powerful new tool in the fight against genocide.

This innovative technology empowers callers to quickly and easily learn about the issues and directly contact policy makers. Importantly, the application of this technology enables concerned constituents to make their voice and opinion heard though collective action. 1-800-GENOCIDE’s technology gives real people the ability to make a difference. The Genocide Intervention Network recognizes that the fight to stop genocide is won or lost in the realm of domestic politics, and we offer this permanent, toll-free number to facilitate effective anti-genocide advocacy.

1-800-GENOCIDE helps transform “Never Again” from a promise we make to a commitment we can keep. Please use 1-800-GENOCIDE today to make an impact now and tell your friends, associates and family about the anti-genocide hotline!

How the Anti-Genocide Hotline Works

When calling 1-800-GENOCIDE, constituents are asked to enter their zip code. The system then recognizes the state and district of the caller enabling the caller’s state officials (when applicable), senators and representative to be determined. The member is then presented with connection choices including their governor (in some states), representative, senators and the White House. Once a selection is made, the member receives customized talking points before being connected through to their elected officials. Members can also have the option of being connected to the Genocide Intervention Network office if they have any questions or would like more information.

The Genocide Intervention Network is able to track calls that are made on the issue and collect feedback from callers. As a result, GI-Net is able to demonstrate with statistical evidence the hotline’s use and importance in anti-genocide advocacy. GI-Net also uses this data to tailor the hotline to the needs of constituents.

Our website, 1800Genocide.com, enables callers to access written talking points and additional information as well as submit feedback on their calls.

High-Profile Celebrity Advocacy with 1-800-GENOCIDE

In February 2007, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, a leading voice in the movement to end genocide in Darfur, highlighted the effectiveness of the anti-genocide hotline. Subsequently, Angelina Jolie, known for her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s refugee agency, called on US residents to use 1-800-GENOCIDE in an article that appeared in People magazine in March. Don Cheadle, star of the Oscar-nominated film “Hotel Rwanda,” prominently featured the anti-genocide hotline as an effective method for action while on tour for his new book, Not On Our Watch, with fellow Darfur activist John Prendergast.

Learn more about the hotline’s Celebrity Endorsers (Mia Farrow, Zach Braff, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Macy Gray).

1-800-GENOCIDE in Canada

On Oct. 15, 2007, STAND Canada launched the 1-800-GENOCIDE hotline in Canada. Now, Canadian anti-genocide advocates will have the ability to contact three key members of the Canadian Parliament to request action on Darfur.

Visit STAND Canada’s website for more information.

Not only is this anti-genocide hotline the first of its kind, it is the first international phone tool which enables both Americans and Canadians to directly access their elected officials. We are proud to work with our Canadian partner organization, STAND Canada.

The Genocide Intervention Network envisions a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide.

GI-Net aims to build an educated political constituency. GI-Net’s programs and policy goals will be consistent with the principles of the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) report. This report offers guidelines for international intervention when governments are unwilling or unable to protect their own citizens from preventable, widespread violence. Using the R2P report as a guide and consulting with the authors of the report and other experts, our efforts will enable citizens to support the most responsible and the most effective means of civilian protection in the face of genocidal crises.

The Genocide Intervention Network (originally the Genocide Intervention Fund) was created by students at Swarthmore College in the fall of 2004 to give concerned Americans the opportunity to help protect civilians from genocide. GI-Net’s founders believed that private contributions in support of peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan, the site of the twenty-first century’s first genocide, could protect civilians and inspire policymakers to take action. With the help of high-profile endorsers, GI-Net established a program in collaboration with the African Union, which leads the only peacekeeping force currently in Darfur. GI-Net’s landmark program allows average Americans to have a direct impact on the ground by helping to fund civilian protection — specifically, to protect women and girls in refugee camps in North Darfur. In the long term, we believe empowering individuals to stand against genocide will build the political will necessary for the international community to recognize its responsibility to protect the victims of genocide and mass atrocities.

Learn more about GI-Net and its campaigns.