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.
GAAMAC Chair statement on International Day of Peace 2020
21 Sep 2020
Today, we celebrate, commemorate and raise awareness about the importance of peace and a culture of non-violence.
UN publishes 12th report of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect
9 Sep 2020
The United Nations recently published its 12th report of the UN Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P): “Prioritizing prevention and strengthening response: Women and the responsibility to protect”.
Adama Dieng steps down as UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
19 Aug 2020
After more than eight years as UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Adama Dieng is stepping down to turn his focus “to strengthening transparency and rule of law across Africa as well as reinforcing the dialogue between civil society and major institutions in Africa”, announced the UN.
Human Rights Council adopts resolution to mark 15th anniversary of R2P
28 Jul 2020
On 17 July 2020, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on the “Fifteenth anniversary of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as enshrined in the 2005 World Summit Outcome” by a vote of 32 in favour, 1 against and 14 abstentions.
Online workshops on ‘hate speech’ in Cameroon, South Sudan and Sudan
10 Jul 2020
GAAMAC partner Rights for Peace is organising a series of online workshops to provide training for local activists in analysing incidents connected to 'hate speech' in conflict countries in relation to human rights frameworks on incitement to genocide, discrimination or violence.
Online course opportunity: Conflict-Related Atrocity Crimes Prevention
2 Jul 2020
The Auschwitz institute for the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities is now recruiting for the inaugural offering of its Conflict-Related Atrocity Crimes Prevention (CRACP) online course, a new initiative supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.
The impact of COVID-19 on transitional justice and atrocity prevention
26 Jun 2020
“This pandemic has shed light on existing vulnerabilities of all our societies; if not addressed early on, these vulnerabilities can become risk factors that lead to atrocities in the future and may hamper transitional justice efforts”, said Mô Bleeker, GAAMAC Chair and Special Envoy for Dealing with the Past and Atrocity Prevention at the Swiss Federal Department of Federal Affairs, in her opening statement. She was speaking during an online discussion on how COVID-19 has affected atrocity prevention and transitional justice efforts which took place on 18 June 2020. The event was organised by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience in partnership with GAAMAC.
GAAMAC Africa Working Group meets online
23 Jun 2020
On 9 June 2020, members of the GAAMAC Africa Working Group (AWG), an initiative created in 2016 during the GAAMAC II global meeting in Manila, Philippines, met online to discuss the next steps of their collaboration on strengthening atrocity prevention in the African region.
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.