Standing in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Libya

As students of the WSCF – North American we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of Libya who are currently experiencing attacks, threats, killings, and other crimes being committed by the inhuman Libyan regime. Recent stories from our brothers and sisters on the ground are indicating that the level of violence is unprecedented. Some 1000 people have died as a result of the “brutal crackdown against protesters.” Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is not moving and has indicated that he refuses to give in to the legitimate demands of the people. His government has issued threats to “purge opponents…house by house and … inch by inch” and do whatever it takes to hold on to his “iron grip on power,” while countless of Libyan towns and cities are being taken over by pro-democracy groups.

The UN Security Council issued a resolution this past Saturday, February 26^th imposing sanctions on the Libyan regime. This has been the second time the UN Security Council has referred a country to the International Criminal Court with a unanimous vote.  We applaud the efforts made by the member of the council but we urge our government to continue providing concrete action steps to follow up on this recent resolution to ensure peace and security in Africa and around the world. We call on our governments to ensure that the people of Libya are protected from grave human rights violations constituting crimes against humanity. As members of the WSCF-NA Region we understand that we have a responsibility to be a prophetic voice, to defend justice and human rights for all. We call on our brothers and sisters across the region to stand up against these injustices, standing in solidarity and demanding that justice be carried out in Libya.

As an act of solidarity we urge you to:

• Hold a vigil in memory of the lives who have been lost and the countless lives that are still at danger in Libya
• Join other mobilizations in your community to end the violence directed towards the innocent civilians exercising their rights
• Take action and write to your government urging that they remain committed to giving follow-up to the steps outlined in the most current UN Security Council resolution referring to the situation in Libya

Let us remember, as Martin Luther King Jr. so strongly pointed out, that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As people of faith, we are called to work towards putting an end to the violence that is being exercised against those in Libya because our well-being is inextricably tied to our brothers and sisters around the world. As a way of moving forward, we call for the UN Security Council to ensure that the International Court of Justice has the necessary resources to fully investigate all crimes committed and to put an end to the culture of impunity and silence perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime. We will continue to monitor the situation in Libya closely as we honor and remember those who have lost their lives in the continuing fight for a more democratic and just world.

Respectfully Submitted

Advocacy and Solidarity Working Group
WSCF – North American Region

Luciano Kovacs

North America Regional Secretary

World Student Christian Federation

475 Riverside Drive, Suite 810

New York, NY 10115
phone+1-212-870-2470
fax +1-212-870-3112
wscfna@gmail.com
www.wscfna.org
www.wscfglobal.org