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.
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.
Civil Society and Inclusive Peace. Key insights and lessons from a global consultation convened on Peace Insight
27 Mar 2019
Peace Direct teamed up with the Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative (IPTI) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) to look into the dynamics of inclusivity and peacebuilding.
Atrocities as the New Normal: Time to Re-Energize the “Never Again” Movement
7 Feb 2019
Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director for Global Advocacy has written an impassioned piece for more action to be taken to prevent and end atrocities.
The play “Breaking the Silence” to tour Cambodia, carrying a message of reconciliation
15 Jan 2019
A play that premiered ten years ago in Cambodia is making a return in 2019, aimed at promoting understanding and reconciliation.
“If not now, when?”: The Responsibility to Protect, the Fate of the Rohingya and the Future of Human Rights
11 Jan 2019
New occasional paper by Dr. Simon Adams, Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.
Podcast: 12 Years That Shook the World
4 Jan 2019
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum has created a podcast series examining the impact of the Holocaust both then and now.
Is Genocide Predictable? Researchers Say Absolutely
21 Dec 2018
Genocide is predictable. On this, researchers and experts agree. What data should be examined to be able to make a prediction is however subject to debate.
Implementing the Responsibility to Protect in the Asia Pacific: An Assessment of Progress and Challenges
20 Dec 2018
The Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect has released a new study evaluating the efforts of the 20 states within the Asia Pacific region to implement the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) nationally and regionally.