Thank you so much.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify regarding the upcoming referendum in Sudan.
This afternoon I'll raise some of the concerns, issues, and appeals made by a Sudanese church delegation that has just completed a tour of the U.S., including visits with the United Nations Secretary General and the White House. We had hoped to bring to testify before you the Reverend Ramadan Chan, general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches, a partner supported by KAIROS and its Canadian church members, but for logistical reasons we were unable to do so.
The Sudan Council of Churches represents Christians in north and south Sudan from the Catholic, Protestant, and Coptic traditions. As a central part of Sudanese civil society, it represents the aspirations of millions of Sudanese. I believe you received a copy of the statement by the Sudan Council of Churches.
There is a real and imminent threat to the security of the people of Sudan and, indeed, the whole region. In less than 90 days, a referendum is due to be held to decide the future of Sudan. If it goes well, bringing peace to a country that has suffered almost five decades of brutal civil war, it will be a beacon of hope to the world. If the promises of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the CPA, are not honoured and the referendum does not deliver a credible result that reflects the aspirations of the people, then Sudan will descend into violence and instability, which will affect the whole region.
Opportunities to encourage success or prepare adequately for failure are rapidly dwindling. There is no time to waste. The CPA guarantors, the United Nations and the international community, need to demonstrate a renewed political will and commitment to enhance their engagement, not just until the referendum but also throughout the coming months and years of transition.
The Sudanese church, in her prophetic role, has accompanied the Sudanese people in times of peace and war. The church has been building peace, providing basic services, and serving millions of Sudanese people across generations as international aid actors have come and gone. It is an indigenous church, sharing the hopes and suffering of the people and giving voice to those who often are not heard. It represents the vast majority of the population of southern Sudan and a significant number of people in the north.
There's much more I can say about the border areas and some of the other contentious issues, but in the interests of time, let me just mention a few important things or demands of the Sudan Council of Churches and the Canadian churches relating to the church in Sudan as an agent for peace and hope.
First, support is needed for the emergency preparations already being implemented by the Sudanese church with and through its international partners, Action of Churches Together, or ACT, and Caritas. Support is also needed for the people-to-people peace process being implemented by the Sudanese church to alleviate violence in the south and the transitional areas.
Furthermore, the voice of the Sudanese people, as expressed through institutions like the church, must be listened to and valued, rather than relying solely on international reports and analysis.
Lastly, in the development of new funding mechanisms, local organizations, including the Sudanese churches, which are close to the people, represented by its council, must be listened to and funds must be made accessible to them.
I'll end right there. Thank you.