Welcome to the Darfur scorecard!

Congress has not fulfilled its promise. In 2004, the House and Senate unanimously proclaimed that genocide — perpetrated by the government of Sudan — was occurring in Darfur. The facts back them up. As many as 400,000 civilians have died and more than 2.5 million Darfurians have been displaced.

In a unanimous resolution, Congress called on the Bush administration to “continue to lead an international effort to stop genocide in Darfur.” Yet Congress’s own leadership on the issue has faltered.

The Darfur scorecard was created by the Genocide Intervention Network, a US non-profit working to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide. The Network created the Darfur scorecard to evaluate Congress’ actions two years after they recognized Darfur as a genocide.

The scorecard, available in full at DarfurScores.org, measures whether members of Congress supported or voted in favor of significant Darfur legislation. The scorecard also recognizes extraordinary actions, such as sponsoring key legislation and congressional visits to the Darfur region. In both the House and the Senate, scores ranged from A+ to F.

“The Genocide Intervention Network’s scorecards will keep the pressure on Congress, reminding them that while progress has been made, more needs to be done,” said Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who received an A+.

“The genocide in Darfur continues, and so must our outrage,” agreed Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), who received an A. “I want to commend the Genocide Intervention Network for their outstanding leadership on this issue, and I will continue to work in Congress to raise awareness and action to stop the massacre of innocents in Darfur.”

The scorecard recognizes a bipartisan coalition of representatives and senators standing up for civilian protection in Darfur, but also brings to light the failure of the majority of Congress to take the necessary steps to save lives in Darfur.

In 2006, less than half of the House and Senate effectively stood against genocide. To bring protection to Darfurians in the future, an overwhelming majority of Congress must commit themselves to ending genocide. “Never again” should be more than a promise made — it should be a commitment we keep.

Congress has already called the crisis in Darfur genocide. The Genocide Intervention Network’s scorecard is an excellent tool to see which members are truly being proactive in fighting the crisis, and which are failing the people of Darfur and the international commitment to end genocide.

With your help, we can press members of Congress to fulfill their responsibility to protect the people of Darfur and end the genocide.