News
As a service to the atrocity prevention community, GAAMAC posts news directly relevant to atrocity prevention. The opinions expressed in the news articles do not represent the views of GAAMAC, its Steering Group or any partner organization.
Security sector reform is vital to Silencing the Guns in Africa
20 Sep 2019
The African Union (AU) has set the ambitious goal of “silencing the guns” by 2020. Security sector reform and governance are key to achieving this, as these inherent political processes address the root causes of conflict, a new piece by the Institute for Security Studies argues.
GCR2P Summary of the UN General Assembly Plenary Meeting on the Responsibility to Protect
22 Aug 2019
The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) produced a summary of the discussions held during the UN General Assembly plenary meeting on “the Responsibility to Protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity” on 27-28 June 2019 in New York, as part of the formal agenda of its 73rd session.
The GCR2P summary provides an overview of state participation in the meeting, as well as of key themes addressed during the two days.
International Humanitarian Law Digital App
21 Aug 2019
On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions this past 12 August 2019, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a digital application that provides access to international humanitarian law treaties and other related documents via tablets and smartphones.
The IHL Digital App has been developed by ICRC as a tool to support the promotion of IHL worldwide, inform the overall law and policy debate, and help professionals in their humanitarian dialogues and negotiation.
The Peace Corner Podcast
13 Aug 2019
In October 2018, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) launched its first podcast series “The Peace Corner”. Through these podcast episodes, listeners will meet with peacebuilders from the GPPAC network, telling their stories from all over the world.
Fact Sheet on the International Court of Justice & the Rohingya
6 Aug 2019
GAAMAC Steering Group member the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and GAAMAC partner the Global Justice Center jointly produced a briefing on "The International Court of Justice & the Genocide of the Rohingya". This fact sheet examines current accountability efforts, including at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. It also intends to clarify available avenues for justice for the crimes committed against the Rohingya population, with a focus on state responsibility for genocide.
First Things First: Prioritize Mass Atrocity Prevention
30 Jul 2019
In this piece published by PeaceLab, Chiara de Franco, an Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Southern Denmark, calls for the development of a coherent approach to atrocity prevention at European Union (EU) level, mainstreamed through its security, development, and trade policies.
Stopping hate speech: A conversation with UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Mr. Adama Dieng (EN/FR)
19 Jul 2019
In this video released by the United Nations, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Mr. Adama Dieng talks about the relation between hate speech and hate crimes from an historical perspective, thereby warning against the rise of extremism that we observe globally nowadays.
Dans cette vidéo produite par les Nations Unies, M. Adama Dieng, Conseiller spécial du Secrétaire général de l’ONU pour la prévention du génocide, rappelle que « les crimes de haine commencent avec les discours haineux ».
Youth Association for Development is among the winners of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards 2019
16 Jul 2019
Mr. Atta ul Haq, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Association for Development (YAD), a GAAMAC partner in Pakistan, has been selected as one of the fifteen winners of the first Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards initiated by Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland last September.
YAD was granted an award in the category Promoting Peace with its project on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) based in the province of Baluchistan.
Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide
28 Jun 2019
The United Nations Secretary-General submitted its report on the prevention of genocide (A/HRC/41/24) to the Human Rights Council (HRC), pursuant of HRC resolution 37/26. The advanced unedited version of the report underlines that prevention is crucial to ensure that genocides never happen again, emphasizing that “an atrocity prevention lens must be a central element of our broader prevention efforts to protect populations from the most egregious atrocity crimes”.
The document mentions GAAMAC as part of the existing international initiatives that can contribute to strengthen capacities for the prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes.
Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect: Lessons Learned for Prevention
28 Jun 2019
The United Nations Secretary-General has released its 2019 report on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) entitled "Responsibility to Protect: Lessons Learned for Prevention" (A/73/898). GAAMAC is mentioned in the introduction, as constituting “an important platform for international cooperation in advancing national prevention efforts”.
United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech
21 Jun 2019
On 18 June 2019, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. The purpose of the Strategy is to expand the understanding of the impact of hate speech among UN entities, with the aim to enhance UN efforts to address root causes and drivers of hate speech, and to enable effective UN responses to its impact on societies.
Docufilm Festival at the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh
14 Jun 2019
The 7th International Festival of Docufilm on Liberation and Human Rights, organized by the Liberation War Museum, a GAAMAC's partner in Bangladesh, was held at the premises of the museum in Dhaka from 18 to 22 April 2019. This film festival features various sections and workshops, and provides an opportunity to engage with young filmmakers and youth around the topic of human rights.
WARM Academy 2019 – Call to Apply
7 Jun 2019
The War Art Reporting and Memory (WARM) Academy is a multidisciplinary, educational and training program that focuses on developing participants’ knowledge, understanding, and critical skills in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. The 2019 WARM Academy will take place from 8 to 13 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is organized by WARM Foundation and the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), one of GAAMAC's partners.
The Academy will feature a series of masterclasses, workshops, and interactive panel discussions that present cutting-edge approaches, innovative techniques, and best practices being utilized across the globe to address issues related to contemporary conflict and post-conflict transitions.
Prevention Calls for Strengthening Development, Humanitarian, Peace “Triple Nexus”
7 Jun 2019
In this analysis published by the International Peace Institute’s Global Observatory, Jorge Moreira da Silva and Eric Rosand point out the innovative recommendation by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to take a “triple nexus” approach complementing development, humanitarian and peace actions.
The authors define the triple nexus or “whole of crisis” approach to fragility by “prioritizing prevention always, delivering development wherever possible, and complementing this all with humanitarian action when necessary.”
Entrepreneurs as Peacebuilders in Fragile States
24 May 2019
This piece by Seth D. Kaplan and Adrian Magendzo, released by the Institute for Integrated Transitions looks at the peacebuilding role of business entrepreneurs to drive change in fragile states. In particular, the publication discusses how entrepreneurs may foster greater inclusiveness in a bottom-up perspective and build bridges that work across social divides.
"Justice for All" - The Report of the Task Force on Justice
23 May 2019
In its "Justice for All" report, the Task Force on Justice has explored the delivery of Sustainable Development Goals’ targets covering justice. At the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lies a vision of a “just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met.” Yet, billions of people are not able to obtain justice. Drawing on research by the world’s leading justice organizations and experts, this report provides a first estimate of the global justice gap.
Launches of the “African Union Transitional Justice Policy” and the “Study on Transitional Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa”
17 May 2019
The 64th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) was held from 24 April to 14 May 2019 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Two significant documents in relation to transitional justice in Africa were launched during this session.
Artivism: The Atrocity Prevention Pavilion
3 May 2019
The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation will be hosting a pavilion in Venice, Italy during the International Art Exhibition Biennale Arte 2019 taking place from 11 May to 24 November. At the intersection between art, human rights and genocide prevention, Artivism is a unique project that illustrates how the arts can be used as mechanism for preventing and responding to mass violence.
Interview with recently appointed United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Ms. Karen Smith
9 Apr 2019
What do you see as the main challenge today to effectively implement atrocity prevention both at the national and international level?
The consensus that was reached on the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the 2005 World Summit has, unfortunately, not led to an overall prioritization of atrocity prevention. This gap between the commitment of states in theory and the reality of implementation is only widening. We see this when states fail to take action in the face not only of the risk of atrocity crimes, but even when there are strong allegations that they have been or are being committed. We also see this when states look the other way when there are tensions within their own borders that, if not addressed, could eventually lead to dynamics conducive to the risk of R2P crimes and violations.
Youth Association for Development Research Report
9 Apr 2019
The Youth Association for Development, a GAAMAC’s partner based in Pakistan, recently released a research report as part of its Women, Peace and Security Project.