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.
New “Digital Inclusion for Peace” initiative for local peacebuilders
26 May 2020
The Shift Power for Peace partnership of Conducive Space for Peace, Humanity United and GAAMAC partner Peace Direct, has created “Digital Inclusion for Peace”, a new initiative to support local peacebuilders to continue and adapt their work during the current COVID-19 crisis.
GAAMAC IV postponed until 2021
19 May 2020
After careful consideration, GAAMAC’s Steering Group has decided to postpone the GAAMAC IV Global Meeting until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shameful resurgence of violent scapegoating in a time of crisis
13 May 2020
Countering the rising wave of anti-Roma hatred, hate speech, and violence associated with responses to the pandemic is an urgent European priority, warn Margareta Matache, Jacqueline Bhabha and GAAMAC Steering Group member Dr Jennifer Leaning.
What can we learn from COVID-19? A parallel between public health and atrocity prevention
5 May 2020
In a new series of conversations, GAAMAC chair Mô Bleeker and Dr Jennifer Leaning, Harvard Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, discuss what we can learn from COVID-19 and which parallels can be drawn between the concept of prevention in public health and the prevention of mass atrocities.
Third Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide event book now available online
1 May 2020
The event book about the Third Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide is now available online.
Synergies Between Atrocity Prevention and Guarantees of Non-recurrence
28 Apr 2020
Guarantees of non-recurrence are a forward-looking transitional justice element, performing a preventive function shared with the responsibility to protect. It is consequently important to understand the mutually reinforcing relationship between this particular remedy for mass atrocities and atrocity prevention
Broadcasting Peace: Insights and lessons from local peacebuilders in Eastern DRC
27 Apr 2020
GAAMAC partner Peace Direct’s latest report, ‘Broadcasting Peace: Insights and lessons from local peacebuilders in Eastern DRC’ is now available.
Is Coronavirus increasing hate speech and scapegoating?
23 Apr 2020
“Large-scale crises like COVID-19 risk an escalation of hate and prejudice”, writes Hugo Jones in a blog of GAAMAC partner Rights to Peace. The social and economic uncertainty entailed could be identified as key in the progression towards hate-based violence.
Strategies for Community-Led Violence Prevention and Transitional Justice in Guinea
9 Apr 2020
Since March 2017, the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation (GIJTR)—a consortium of nine organizations offering a multidisciplinary, grassroots approach to transitional justice—has been working collaboratively with civil society organizations and survivors in Guinea to confront the country’s legacy of human rights violations and develop community-led truth, justice and reconciliation strategies to prevent violence from recurring
A time for a welcomed leadership: The United Nations Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire
3 Apr 2020
Global Action Against Mass Atrocities (GAAMAC) fully supports the United Nations Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire to “put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives”.
13 EU members issue joint statement over rule of law during COVID-19
2 Apr 2020
13 EU members including GAAMAC Steering Group member Denmark and GAAMAC partner the Netherlands have expressed deep concern about “the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures”.
A time for solidarity and strengthened connection in prevention
20 Mar 2020
The COVID-19 global pandemic is affecting millions of people and communities around the world. GAAMAC stands in solidarity with those who are directly and indirectly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, in particular the most vulnerable.
Opportunity for Practitioners in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention
21 Feb 2020
The Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP) at Binghamton University/The State University of New York is looking for two genocide and mass atrocity practitioners for a residential stay of one academic semester, supported by the Charles E. Scheidt Family Foundation.
UN Security Council to hold an open debate on transitional justice
13 Feb 2020
On 13 February 2020, the Security Council will hold a debate on “transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict situations” under the peacebuilding and sustaining peace agenda item.
GAAMAC Asia Pacific Study group meets in Bangkok
31 Jan 2020
On 29 January 2020, the GAAMAC Asia Pacific Study Group, formed at GAAMAC III in Kampala, Uganda, met in Bangkok, Thailand to workshop a draft report on preventing hate speech, incitement, and discrimination.
Addressing the weaponization of social media
17 Jan 2020
GAAMAC partner the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) has been at the cutting edge of identifying trends regarding social media and online hate, as well as sensitizing state actors and civil society groups to its potential dangers.
Social media and conflict in Iraq and Democratic Republic of Congo
17 Jan 2020
PeaceTech Lab recently published new hate speech Lexicons on social media and conflict in Iraq and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Sudan peace agreement signed in Rome
15 Jan 2020
The Rome Declaration was signed on 13 January 2020 after many days of dialogue facilitated by the Community of Sant’Egidio between members of the central government of South Sudan and representatives of the opposition movements.
Asia Pacific Study Group prepares report on hate speech
20 Dec 2019
The Asia Pacific Study Group, formed at GAAMAC III in Kampala, 2018, is currently preparing a report on Preventing Hate Speech, Incitement, and Discrimination: Lessons on Promoting Tolerance and Respect for Diversity in the Asia Pacific.
Digital Accountability Symposium: Weapons of Mass Media–Facebook News and a Call to Accountability
17 Dec 2019
For anyone concerned about the weaponization of social media to further atrocities, the dangers of Facebook’s new feature Facebook News are unprecedented, writes Shannon Raj Singh.