Online

Organized By : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

In the 20 years since the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force on 1 July 2002, conflicts around the world have proliferated, the scale of atrocity crimes has grown and impunity for these crimes persists. Conflicts in Myanmar (Burma), Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen and, most recently, Ukraine have prompted renewed discussions on the effectiveness of the international criminal justice system to deter atrocity crimes and hold perpetrators to account.

Several proposals have been put forward to increase the deterrent effect of justice, including the creation of new tribunals, the reform of the United Nations (UN) system and the Rome Statute, and the codification of new crimes. This event will discuss the role of international tribunals, the UN and domestic prosecutions, as well as norms and principles, such as the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), in deterring and prosecuting atrocity crimes. The panelists will also examine how lessons learned can inform accountability initiatives related to ongoing atrocity crimes.

The event will take place online, on Tuesday 21 June at 2:30PM (EDT).

Register here.

Organized By : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

As human rights violations and abuses often constitute early warning signs of atrocity crimes, the UN human rights system serves an important function in the prevention of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. At the same time, the UN Human Rights Council's (HRC) mechanisms and procedures advance the protection of women and girls through various processes. In this regard, the HRC plays an essential role in strengthening the linkages between the Women, Peace and Security agenda (WPS) and the international norm of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

While UN Special Procedures, including Special Rapporteurs or Independent Experts, and HRC-mandated investigative mechanisms, such as Commissions of Inquiry or Fact-Finding Missions, often apply a gender lens when looking at situations at risk of, or experiencing, atrocity crimes, this practice is not yet systematic across the UN human rights system. Since women and girls are uniquely affected and targeted in many situations where atrocity crimes are being perpetrated, the systematic application of a gender lens would enhance holistic atrocity prevention strategies and improve the effective implementation of R2P.

This virtual public event will discuss how HRC investigative and reporting mandates can apply a gender lens, challenges that are faced in incorporating a gender lens, and how the application of the gender lens and WPS agenda within atrocity prevention and investigation efforts can be strengthened.

30 March at 3 PM (CET)

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Online

Organized By : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

For the past seven years the people of Yemen have suffered from innumerable atrocities. This has been exacerbated by unmitigated impunity and a widening accountability gap. Despite the horrors of the ongoing conflict, on 7 October 2021 the UN Human Rights Council failed to adopt the mandate renewal of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (GEE). The GEE, established in 2017, monitored all alleged violations and abuses of international law in Yemen and produced annual reports detailing likely war crimes and crimes against humanity. The abrupt termination of the GEE, the only international and independent investigative body reporting on violations and abuses in Yemen, was a major setback for all victims.

Since then, there has been a devastating escalation in hostilities. Civilian casualties from hostilities have almost doubled since October as compared to the preceding four months. Meanwhile, the escalation has further deteriorated the humanitarian conditions in the country, worsening a human-made catastrophe that already threatens millions of Yemeni lives. These developments demonstrate the dire civilian impact of accountability gaps and the consequences of impunity that UN member states must urgently work to prevent.

This event, held on the sidelines of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, will assess the deteriorating situation facing civilians in Yemen since the termination of the GEE in October 2021. It will also discuss lessons learned from recent events in Yemen regarding the connection between accountability and the protection of civilians, as well as steps required from the international community to recommit to the fight against impunity and help protect civilian lives.

Online, 18 March at 2 PM (CET), 9 AM (ET)

Registration here

Online

Organized By : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

By systematically negating the facts of history, genocide deniers manufacture doubt, seed discord and mistrust, strengthen contested narratives about the past, present and future, and create conditions that may lead to the recurrence of atrocities. Drawing from unique experiences, this event provides the opportunity for panelists to discuss how education has played a crucial role in combatting genocide denial and the prevention of atrocities.

This event is co-organized by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (member of GAAMAC's Steering Group) and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN. Armenia is a partner of GAAMAC. 

Speakers: 

Video message:
H.E. Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

Opening remarks:
H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations

Address:
Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Adviser of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide

Moderator:
Ms. Savita Pawnday, Executive Director, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

Panelists:
- Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, Lecturer in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, Columbia University
- Dr. Taner Akçam, Historian and Sociologist, Professor of History, Clark University
- Ms. Tali Nates, Executive Director, Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Center, South Africa
- Ms. Andrea Gittleman, Program Manager, Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Mr. Jack Mayerhofer, Deputy Executive Director, Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities

Watch the even on Zoom (starts at 3PM UTC+1 on 9 December 2021)

Organized By : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

The Dubrovnik Atrocity Prevention School will introduce participants to the foundations and challenges of atrocity prevention and put special emphasis on the implementation of the “responsibility to protect” (R2P) principle agreed by all UN member states in 2005. The School includes guest lectures by key experts in the field of atrocity prevention both from the United Nations, regional organisations and civil society in New York, Geneva and the field.

Participants will explore the challenge of assessing the effectiveness of different types of preventions, focusing on preventive diplomacy, field operations, humanitarian action, civil society action, economic inducements and other mean of prevention. During this course, participants will learn different ways of examining and evaluating atrocity prevention, to understand and compare the different actors engaged in this work, to consider the relationship between gender, human rights, and the prevention of atrocity crimes, and to understand, assess and utilise key tools such as preventive diplomacy, peaceful measures, coercive measures, the protection of civilians in complex operations, transitional justice and accountability, and the prevention of recurrence. These insights and skills will be put to the test in a series of exercises.

All participants have to register online at https://iuc.hr/programme/1111 (“Apply”) no later than 15 July 2021.