In April 2019, the Africa Working Group (AWG) released a Manual on Best Practices for the Establishment and Management of National Mechanisms for Genocide and Mass Atrocities Prevention. Drawing on its members’ own expertise and experience in developing national prevention mechanisms, the Manual provide guidance to other countries seeking to follow in their footsteps.
Now, a toolkit complements the Manual by laying out the “nuts and bolts” of establishing and managing national mechanisms: when and how may they be established? How to frame their mandate? Who should they involve? The toolkit is designed as a pedagogical base to train, educate and inspire all state actors who may be instrumental to shaping these mechanisms – including those with little or no subject-matter knowledge.
A report to put in every hands
The toolkit is divided into four sections:
- Section one lays out the theoretical bases to understand national mechanisms;
- Section two covers the establishment of national mechanisms;
- Section three explains how to manage national mechanisms after their establishment;
- Section four consists of a role play to put acquired knowledge into practice.
Sections are broken down into modules and teaching units to offer maximum flexibility. Key learning outcomes, practical exercises and additional resources help trainers to lead clear, interactive sessions with plenty of time for exchange. Evaluation sheets at the end of the toolkit ensure the training can be further improved based on the students’ assessment.
Building and strengthening national prevention mechanisms is crucial to GAAMAC’s mission. Each state should be equipped to identify and contain early warning signs before violence escalates. As a practical, easily actionable tool, the training toolkit is hoped to help stakeholders improve domestic efforts to prevent atrocities.
