Janice Kamenir-Reznik, Co-founder & President of JWW, Lobbies for CA Divestment from Sudan

Divestment

JWW has been at the forefront of campaigns to educate and raise awareness on the part of the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, other local governments, and other entities and individuals about the value of divesting from companies doing business in Sudan. JWW worked with the Sudan Divestment Task Force to convince the University of California regents to vote in favor of divestment and the state legislature to pass legislation that was recently signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, enacting UC divestment legislation and requiring divestment by the state retirement funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS.

JWW contributed significantly to the California State, City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County divestment campaigns as well, and continues to work on further divestment efforts at the local, city, and federal levels.

Learn more about JWW’s Divestment efforts

California State Divestment Action

Press ReleaseJWW Remarks on Governor Schwartzenegger Signing AB 2941 into Law

City of Los Angeles Divestment Action

JWW Statement to LA City Council Intergovernmental Relations CommitteesJWW Statement to LACERSTemple Israel of Hollywood Youth Go to LA City Council

Contract Ban Legislation

JWW actively pursued passage of California State Assembly Bill 498, the Darfur Contracting Act, which banned new or renewed contracts with companies operating in “worst offending” industries in Sudan. AB 49 passed the CA Legislature unanimously in September 2008.

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Caravan for Peace – Faces of Genocide

In conjunction with the global events that were held in the fall of 2006 to help end the ongoing atrocities in Darfur, JWW organized a caravan of survivors of the Holocaust and the genocides that were carried out in Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia and against the Kurds to meet with consulates general across Los Angeles.

The JWW-led event was designed to engage representatives of United Nations member states in a face-to-face dialog with survivors of genocides that were carried out during the twentieth century. Meetings were held with several consuls general throughout the Los Angeles area, including representatives of five countries that are members of the U.N. Security Council. At the meetings, JWW and survivors urged each nation to use its influence to help convince the government of Sudan to accept a peacekeeping force.

Meetings with International Officials

China: In 2007 JWW consulted with Chinese officials regarding China’s significant relationship with Sudan. In 2008, JWW built upon these international efforts by sponsoring monthly vigils outside the Chinese Consulate.

Israel: JWW worked closely with Israeli officials to support the design of an effective refugee policy through which to process Sudanese asylum seekers currently in Israel. Coordination with Israeli officials continued in 2008 as JWW began supporting Darfuri refugee children absorbed by the Bialik-Rogosin School in Tel Aviv. JWW Executive Director, Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug, held a high-level meeting with First Lady of Israel, Aliza Olmert, to discuss the situation in Darfur and the refugees from the conflict in Israel.

UN Officials: In April and May 2008, JWW held meetings with top officials from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to discuss the Solar Cooker Project and its potential expansion to several new camps in eastern Chad. On April 26, 2008 representatives from Jewish World Watch had the honor of meeting with UN High Commissioner António Guterres and Michel Gabaudan, UNHCR’s regional representative for the United States (DC) to make a presentation about the Solar Cooker Project. In May 2008, Janice Kamenir-Reznik, JWW Founding President, Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug, JWW Executive Director and Rachel Andres, Director of the JWW Solar Cooker Project held follow-up discussions with UNHCR officials, as well as the Chadian Ambassador to the US and his wife on the topic. The discussions took place in New York following conference of the Charles Bronfman Prize upon Rachel Andres, JWW’s nominee for the award.

In fall 2006, Jewish World Watch, in conjunction with the International Crisis Group (link – http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm), participated in a series of meetings with the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and other key actors within the United Nations. Jewish World Watch advocated to the Ambassadors of the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and France, that the United Nations take the necessary steps to deploy peacekeepers into Darfur and Chad, and that the United Nations should impose sanctions against Khartoum.

Supporting Peacemakers in Darfur
JWW Partner: International Crisis Group

Supported by funds from Jewish World Watch, analysts from the International Crisis Group conducted field research in government held territories of Darfur to determine the ability of the Africa Union (AU) forces on the ground to provide security and assess the conditions of the Internally Displaced. The report set out in detail how the international community can best make headway in each of the three areas identified: civilian protection, accountability and peace talks. The analysis conducted by Crisis Group had a strong influence over peace negotiations with major parties to the conflict.

Conflict Prevention in Darfur

JWW supported International Crisis Group, a key research and advocacy organization with a long history in Sudan, in completing research on the current situation in Darfur. JWW’s grant to Crisis Group allowed that research to be directed towards a key Crisis Group publication on the security situation in Darfur. The publication generated practical and specific policy recommendations aimed at advancing and supporting peace processes and mobilize political support in the immediate region, key African capitals, Europe, North America and the international community at large for the implementation of these policy recommendations.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

Jewish World Watch has worked closely with the Armenian community of the greater Los Angeles area to recognize and commemorate the Armenian genocide. As a community that has also experienced genocide, the Jewish community holds what Rabbi Schulweis has called “a kinship of suffering” with the Armenian people. JWW emphasized this kinship at several events in the first half of 2007, including:

• Documentary Screening – Screamers: This documentary follows the rock band System of a Down as they tour Europe and the US, pointing out the horrors of modern genocide from Armenia through Darfur. (January 22, 2007, Valley Beth Shalom, 700 people attended)
• Film Screening – Voices from the Lake: The screening of Dr. J. Michael Hagopian’s award-winning film documenting the stories of five witnesses to the Armenian genocide was followed by a panel discussion with Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis and Dr. Hagopian. (April, 23 2007, Valley Beth Shalom, 400 people attended)
• Armenian Genocide Commemorative Shabbat Dinner and Service: For the first time, the Jewish community reached out to officially recognize and commemorate the Armenian genocide. JWW and Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue welcomed Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, His Eminence, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese/Armenian Church of North America, the Very Reverend Father Dajad Yardemian, Vicar General, Western Diocese/Armenian Church of North America, as well as several representatives of local Armenian American organizations and churches. The Choirs of both St. Peter Armenian Church and Valley Beth Shalom performed together at the service that followed the Shabbat dinner. (April 27, 2007, Valley Beth Shalom, 1000 people attended)
• First Annual “iWitness” Awards Presentation: Jewish World Watch honored Dr. Richard Hovanissian and Dr. J. Michael Hagopian for their lifetimes’ work to awaken the world to the Armenian genocide. This event was made possible with the generous support of the Schulweis Institute. (May 15, 2007, Adat Ari El, 500 people attended)