Oxfam calls on Blair to lead move against genocide
Oxfam International has urged Tony Blair to try and persuade other countries to back a new agreement designed to stop genocides like Rwanda ever happening again.
While the charity praised the British government for lending its support to the plan, it is keen for the US, Brazil, India and Russia to get involved, ahead of pivotal talks which resume at the UN on Monday.
Barbara Stocking, director of Oxfam, said: “This is an opportunity for the prime minister to show his commitment to a progressive foreign policy agenda.
“As negotiations resume today we’re urging Britain to use every diplomatic resource at its disposal to secure an agreement designed to stop future genocides.”
A new measure that will commit governments to taking more effective action against atrocities such as genocide is on the agenda for the UN Summit, the biggest meeting of world leaders ever. It will be held September 14-16, in New York.
Oxfam hopes Mr Blair will use his “close working relationship” with George W Bush to seal an agreement on a foreign policy goal that could save the lives of millions, by sharing responsibility and taking collective action against atrocities.
The UK, along with other governments such as Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the EU, Rwanda and Kenya have strongly supported the agreement, but there are fears that there will be pressure for the weakening of the declaration, from countries such as the US.
