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It will not be updated after March 2010, but is being left online as a record of SURF's work and activities over the years.
Our News
Support for SURF EDM
London – 30 March 2009
Early Day Motion 1177 calls on the British Government to maintain and build on its support for shelter, education, healthcare and livelihood programmes to deliver restorative justice for the 400,000 survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
An Early Day Motion (EDM) is a parliamentary petition which MPs can sign to express their support for a particular issue.
It will be a sign of solidarity for survivors to secure the support of as many MPs as possible to sign the EDM for it to have a real impact. In 2004 on the 10th Anniversary of the genocide, a similar EDM secured 112 signatures – our aim is to get more signatures this time round.
Follow the four steps below to lobby your MP to sign EDM 1177.
Step 1: Find out your MP, entering your postcode on www.theyworkforyou.com
Step 2: Find out if your MP has signed EDM 1177, by clicking on the Early Day Motions signed by this MP (highlighted by the red arrow in the graphic below.)
Step 3: If they have not, then write to them to sign EDM 1177 by clicking on the Send a message (highlighted purple in the example below).
For your convenience, a template letter is pasted below.
Step 4: www.theyworkforyou.com will email you to confirm the letter you have submitted is correct. Just click on the link they provide, and the letter will be sent.
Here is the template letter for copying and pasting as described above:
Dear [Name of your MP],
EDM 1177 ("Fifteenth Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide")
As a constituent, I would be very grateful if you would sign the above EDM, calling on the British Government to maintain and build on its support for shelter, education, healthcare and livelihood programmes to deliver restorative justice for the 400,000 survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
For your convenience, the number, title and text of the EDM is reproduced below this letter.
The EDM has been tabled by Eric Joyce MP, in his capacity as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group of the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and is supported by Survivors Fund (SURF), a UK-based organisation representing and supporting and survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
Further information on SURF and the situation of survivors in Rwanda today, may be found on www.survivors-fund.org.uk. As a supporter of SURF, and its work, and with the 15th Anniversary of the genocide on 7th April 2009, I wanted to bring this to your attention.
With thanks in anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
[Your name, postal address, and other contact details]
EARLY DAY MOTION
EDM 1177
FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE
24.03.2009
Joyce, Eric
That this House recognises the 15 year anniversary commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda which began in April 1994 and resulted in around one million dead in 100 days; urges the United Nations as well as all countries to learn from its terrible consequences and act decisively to prevent genocide; acknowledges the enduring legacy of the genocide for the 400,000 survivors in Rwanda today, many of whom are vulnerable widows and orphans; condemns continued instances of attacks on genocide survivors; notes that shelter, education, healthcare and livelihood programmes to deliver restorative justice for survivors are vital for reconciliation in Rwanda; commends the work of organisations working towards this end; and calls upon the Government to maintain and build upon its support to survivors.
Download Support for SURF EDM (PDF: 24KB)