NCJW Salutes Passage of the Sudan Divestment Act

December 19, 2007, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today applauded passage of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act and called on President Bush to sign the bill as soon as possible. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder issued the following statement:

"NCJW is gratified that Congress has passed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which protects the right of US states to divest from the worst offending companies in Sudan and bars the federal government from contracting with companies funding the genocide in Darfur. NCJW members worked very hard to achieve passage of this bill. Earlier this year, NCJW divested from any organizational investments in companies doing business with the government of Sudan.

"We urge President Bush to sign the bill forthwith. Divestment cuts off funds that help finance the Sudanese regime that is implicated in the deaths of 400,000 civilians in the last four years and the displacement of another 2.5 million now forced to live under dangerous conditions in refugee camps in neighboring countries.

"Congress understood that the arguments against the bill's enactment -- mainly that it unduly ties the hands of private interests -- do not hold water. Economic sanctions have been a potent weapon against injustice in the past and are an essential tool in this instance. The President should add this tool to our nation's efforts to end the horrific genocide that is ongoing in Darfur."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org