PrintGenocide Prevention Task Force
Providing a Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers
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August 4, 2011
Statement of Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen on the Announcement of the Presidential Study Directive on Mass Atrocities
The co-chairs of the Genocide Prevention Task Force welcome President Obama's directive to strengthen our government's response to actual or threatened mass violations of human rights.
August 4, 2011
United States Institute of Peace Lauds Presidential Steps on Genocide Prevention
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) welcomes the announcement by President Barack Obama on new initiatives to prevent mass atrocities and to impose consequences on serious human rights violators as a needed step forward.
"Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers"
The Report of the Genocide Prevention Task Force
- Download the entire report [PDF, 1.88MB]
Download Sections of the Report
- Front cover (.pdf 62KB)
- Foreword by the Co-Chairs (.pdf 100KB)
- Letter from the Convening Organizations (.pdf 96KB)
- Executive Summary (.pdf 111KB)
- Defining the Challenge (.pdf 108KB)
- Chapter 1 (.pdf 225KB)
- Chapter 2 (.pdf 206KB)
- Chapter 3 (.pdf 415KB)
- Chapter 4 (.pdf 460KB)
- Chapter 5 (.pdf 606KB)
- Chapter 6 (.pdf 566KB)
- Summary of Recommendations (.pdf 187KB)
- Appendices (.pdf 1.17MB)
- Back cover (.pdf 270KB)
- Brochure (.pdf 340KB)
The Genocide Prevention Task Force was launched on November 13, 2007 and released its report to the public on December 8, 2008. It was jointly convened by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, The American Academy of Diplomacy, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Goals:
(1) To spotlight genocide prevention as a national priority; and;
(2) To develop practical policy recommendations to enhance the capacity of the U.S. government to respond to emerging threats of genocide and mass atrocities.
The December 8, 2008 report, "Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers," asserts that genocide is preventable, and that progress to this end begins with leadership and political will.
The report provides 34 recommendations, starting with the need for high-level attention, standing institutional mechanisms, and strong international partnerships to respond to potential genocidal situations when they arise; it lays out a comprehensive approach, recommending improved early warning mechanisms, early action to prevent crises, timely diplomatic responses to emerging crises, greater preparedness to employ military options, and action to strengthen global norms and institutions.
Explore Further
USIP's Work on Genocide Prevention
- USIP’s Lawrence Woocher on the New Steps to Prevent Genocide, On the Issues
USIP’s Lawrence Woocher discusses President Barack Obama’s major announcement Thursday on new steps to prevent mass atrocities, including the creation of an interagency Atrocities Prevention Board and other initiatives. | August 2011 - Responsibility to Protect Working Group
- Conflict Assessment and Intelligence Analysis, USIP Special Report
To be effective, policymaking and programming in conflict situations must start with an accurate understanding of local context, conflict actors, causes, and the dynamic relationships among them. The report argues that complex conflict situations can be better understood by tapping the potential synergy between two distinct approaches to analyzing conflicts—conflict assessment and intelligence analysis. | June 2011 - Making Peace After Genocide, USIP PeaceWorks
In this report, former presidential special envoy Howard Wolpe examines the four phases of peacemaking in Burundi after genocide. | April 2011 - Libya, Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect
On the Issues by Lawrence Woocher | March 29, 2011 - Confronting the Challenge of "Political Will"
Remarks by Richard H. Solomon and Lawrence Woocher
Instability Warning and Genocide Prevention Symposium
Vanderbilt University Law School | March 18, 2010 - Sign up to receive USIP's Conflict Analysis Prevention Newsletter, a bi-monthly newsletter providing highlights of USIP’s conceptual work, its region-specific work, and special projects related to conflict prevention.
- Read about the term "genocide" in USIP's Glossary of Terms for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding.