The Religious Legislative Advocacy and Information Network on Southern Africa

THE RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION NETWORK ON SOUTHERN AFRICA

An information for action service program on behalf of the religious community sponsored by the Washington Ofkc on Africa.

110 M~TLARDAVENUE, N.E. SUITE 112 W-TON, D.C. 20002 (202)846-7961 THE RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION NETWORK ON SOUTHERN AFRICA

An information for action service program on behalf of the religious community sponsored by the Washington Office on Africa.

The purpose of this information service and advocacy program is to: provide a regular flow of information, analysis and action recommendations to religious and church leaders, laypersons and anti-apartheid organizations, on developments in the United States Congress and the Executive Branch regarding southern Africa;

ensure an ongoing advocacy and presence by religious and church organizations before Congress and the Executive branch;

provide information to U.S. religious and church organizations on the opinions and activities of South African, Namib- ian and other Southern African religious leaders and organizations working against apartheid;

organize legislative and general U.S. policy briefings for religious leaders and church groups.

THE WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA: THE CAPITOL HILL EYES AND EARS OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY AND OTHER NGO's ON SOUTHERN AFRICA An informatian for actian service program for the religious camunity sponsored by the Washingtm Office an Africa. The purpose of this information service and advocacy program is to: * provide a regular flow of information, analysis and action recormen- dations to religious and church leaders, laypersons and organizations, on developments in the United States Congress and the Execu- tive Branch regacding southern Africa;

* ensure an on-going advocacy and presence by religious and church organizations before Congress and the Executive Branch; * provide information to U.S. religious and church organizations on the opinions and activities of South African, Namibian and other southern African religious leders and organizations working against apartheid; * organize legislative and general U.S. policy briefings for religious and church groups.

Since 1972 the Washington Office on Africa and the Washington Office on Mr ica Fducational Fund, have worked to educate, inform and mobilize churches, trade unions, anti-apartheid organizations, and Yiembers of Congress, to take action to end U.S. support for apaxtheid in southern Afr ica. Founded and supported by major national church denaninations and trade unions, WX has been a r~mjor force for more than 17 years in 1) keeping the religious comity informed about the latest developments in Congress and the executive branch; 2) coor- dinating lobbying efforts by religious and church groups in Washinston in support of anti-apartheid legislation in Congress ant! policy f ornulation within the administration.

Churches, religious organizations, trde unions and anti-apartheid groups rely on the Washington Office on Africa for the latest details and action recormen- dations on develapments in Congress and the Bush Administration on southern African issues. WQA has as well-informed professional st&£, 17 years of legislative experience, and a Capitol Hill reputation for producing well-written resources, anl! timely analysis. Because WOA is in close proximity to Capitol Hill and the State Department, we maintain daily contazts and valuable working relationships with key Washington policy makers and their staff and provide critical information for action to churches and the anti-apartheid community constituency. WA's staff prepares and distributes slmanaries of major bills, issue briefing sheets, legislative background informat ion, bill cornpar ison outlines, legislative talking points, voting records and "swing" lists on legislation affecting southern Africa. WCA also maintains a current, regularly updated listing and description of all legislation affecting scuthern Africa. F,W also publishes a newsletter, W-ton Notes on Africa. A 24-hour Anti-Apartheid Action Eotline (202) 546-0408 provides weekly updates on legislation before Congress and developments within the Bush Administration. This hotline receives over 100 calls per week. Without this information, groups have indicated that they find it difficult to effectively mobilize and adequately inform their religious ad grassroots constituencies for legislative action against apartheid.

VKlR's Legislative Information and Advocacy Service Seeks to Inform ad Mobilize the Religious and NOO Camarnity Araund the Following Program of Actions: - Strong sanctions, including comprehensive economic sanctions against South Africa;

Support for Namibian independence, humanitarian, and econon~ic and development aid to a free and idependent Namibia;

Stop aid to the South African and U.S. supported CIPJITA rebels in AngoldNormalize relations between the U.S. and the Peoples Republic of Pagola; - Prevent U.S. support for the South African-backed &namo rebels in Mozarnbique/Increase U.S. bilateral emergency relief and long term economic and development assistance to Mozambique; Economic and development assistance to the Frontline States and the Southern Afr ican Devel.apment Coord ina t i on Conference (SADCC) . Throughout 1989 the Washington Off ice on Africa, and the Washington Office on Africa Eklucational Fund (WOMP), W'Seducation and research arm will continue to work for comprehensive sanctions against South Africa, support Namibian indepen6ence, lobby against aid to UMTA and push for the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Angola.

Highlights of m's inportant &vocacy work ad information dhsemination to the religious camunity:

When religious and church groups come to lobby their Cowressional representatives in Washington, or prepare to lobby kIerrbers in their home congressional districts, they often call upon FJaA for information. They contact us by phone or arrange legislative briefings with our professional legislative staff. For masple in 1986 a group of Pro- gressive National Baptist Convention Ministers came to Washington to lobby and demonstrate at the South African dassy. hOA staff conductel! a ninety minute briefing on the situation in Congress and how they could support the sanctions bills pending that year; Ch June 16, 1986 the Washington Office on Africa worked closely with the Churches Ehergency Ca-mnittee on Southern Africa (CXSA) to organize a major legislative briefing and lobbying effort by the churches who came to Washington to push for passage of the comprehensive sanctions bill introduced by Congressman Ronald V. Dellums (D-) . The brief hg, coordinated by P7CA in cooperation with CM3SA and the Africa Office of the National Council of Churches, was attended by several prominent church leaders and featured presentations by WX staff, anti-apartheid Congressional leaders and a representative from the State Department. This effort helped provide the momentum for passage by the House of Representatives of the Dellurns ' comprehensive sanctions bill that year;

In Hay 1988 the World Council of Churches Program to Conkat Pxism (FCC, PCR) sponsored the Hearings on Namibia organized in Washington in cooperation with the Washington Office on Africa. The well attended hearings featured presentations by Namibian church leaders, mehrs of Congress, top leaders of the Southwest Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO) , inclu6ing President Sam Nu jma, and Namibian civilians who were victims of South Mr ican repression;

Ch June 16, 1988 wQA, working in coordination with national church and re1ig ious groups, the Washington Interreligious Staff Council (L1%tSC) trade unions and anti-apartheid groups, organized Nztional Anti-Apar- theid Action and Lobby Day. The day's events included a rajor briefing and lobbying by scores of church leaders. A national rally was attended by hundreds and featured speeches and presentations by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Patricia .Wlurg, Bishop John Walker, Reverend Yvonne Delk, Father Ted Hayden, Bishop Kenneth Hicks; Willis Logan, Congressman Ron Dellums, Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Paul Simn, Congressman Howard Wolpe, and others. Weeks later the House again passed a comprehensive sanctions bill sponsored by Congressman Ron Dellums;

Throughout 1987 and 1988 WOR organized in five natianal strategy meetings and Capitol Hill briefings on sanctions attended by religious, trade union, and anti-apartheid groups;

Admidst the intensified battle for sanctions throughout 1984-1986, WQA provided churches, religious groups, anti-apartheid organizations anll trade unions protesting at the South African enlbassy and consulates under the banner of the Free South Africa Pavement (FSAEI) , concise and invaluable background information and rescurces on sanctions legislation pending in Congress. The information and briefings provided by 1t.i during this period was critical to the success of FSAElls successful lobby efforts.