Inspiring prevention actions from around the world

Dear GAAMAC community,

We sincerely hope that this newsletter finds you well and in good health and spirit.

Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, GAAMAC’s community has remained active, shown resilience, flexibility and creativity, and continued its important work in atrocity prevention through new initiatives, projects and resources. Below you will find some of the latest developments of the past months.

We hope that these actions of prevention from around the world will inspire you.

A NEW RESOURCE LIBRARY

GAAMAC is excited to announce the launch of its new resource library. This tool is meant to catalogue atrocity prevention related reference documents, videos, toolkits and manuals, reports, statements and more. You can filter according to topic, resource type, location or institution type.

The library will be continuously updated. If you would like us to add a specific resource, please send an email to supportoffice@gaamac.org!

NEWS FROM THE GAAMAC COMMUNITY

[GLOBAL]

Human Rights Council adopts resolution to mark 15th anniversary of R2P

GAAMAC welcomes the adoption on 17 July 2020 by the Human Rights Council of 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”. The resolution was co-sponsored by different states, including GAAMAC Steering Group members Switzerland and Costa Rica.

The impact of COVID-19 on transitional justice and atrocity prevention

On 18 June 2020, over 70 people participated in an online discussion on how COVID-19 has affected atrocity prevention and transitional justice efforts, particularly in Uganda and El Salvador, co-organised by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience and GAAMAC. Read about the event or watch it here.

United Nations Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering Covid-19 related Hate Speech

This Guidance Note, which was launched on 11 May, sets out recommendations to various actors for addressing and countering COVID-19 related hate speech. It builds on and is complementary to the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. While Member States have the primary responsibility for tackling COVID-19-related hate speech, other actors – especially tech and social media companies, mainstream media, and civil society – also have a significant role to play. The United Nations system plays a critical role, especially in supporting states and other actors to develop and apply human rights-compliant measures to tackle COVID-19 related hate speech.

Launch of “The Global Exchange” conversation series

WFM/IGP launched "The Global Exchange," a virtual conversation series that provides a platform for solutions-focused discussions by experts on major global challenges such as violent conflict, mass atrocity crimes, and pandemics. Thus far, WFM/IGP has held conversations on hate speech in South Asia, the impact of US sanctions on the ICC, policing and the SDGs, and several rights issues implicated by ICC decisions. Please follow @worldfederalist for more information.

The Role of the Human Rights Council in Implementing the Responsibility to Protect

In this piece, Elisabeth Pramendorfer of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P), member of GAAMAC's Steering Group, writes about the unique role the UN Human Rights Council can play in implementing R2P and triggering follow-up action outside of Geneva.

[REGIONAL]

GAAMAC Africa Working Group meets online

On 9 June 2020, over 15 members of the GAAMAC Africa Working Group (AWG) met online to discuss the next steps of their collaboration on strengthening atrocity prevention in the African region, such as through the dissemination of the Manual. “I can see that there is a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm; let’s not give up and let’s keep up the momentum”, said AWG Patron Ambassador Liberata Mulamula.

Launch of an online exhibition of art by Rohingya refugees

In June 2020 Harvard University Asia Centre graduate students in collaboration with the Liberation War Museum, member of GAAMAC's Steering Group, launched an online interactive exhibition with art and craft of the Rohingya refugees titled "The Thread". The exhibit aims to raise the voices of the persecuted Rohingya at the international level.

A European priority : the shameful resurgence of violent scapegoating in a time of crisis

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. Read the full article retracing the history of Roma persecution in Europe and how COVID-19 is the latest social and economic crisis to ignite communally sanctioned attacks on Roma individuals and communities.

[NATIONAL]

Reducing identity-based violence in Eastern DRC

GAAMAC partner Peace Direct recently developed 'One Piece of the Puzzle’, a story mini-series on the work of their local partner in Eastern DRC, the Beni Peace Forum. The Forum is developing an early warning and response network to reduce identity-based violence in the area of Beni. They have set up Local Protection Committees (LPCs) in key communities throughout Beni, made up of trusted members of their communities.

Countering the spread of harmful rumours and misinformation

GAAMAC partner The Sentinel Project has been expanding its work to counter the spread of harmful rumours and misinformation that contribute to intercommunal conflict. This includes the Kijiji Cha Amani project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Hagiga Wahid project operating in both South Sudan and Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Uganda, and expanding the Hagiga Wahid project to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.

Affirming an Interreligious Response to Building Peaceful, Inclusive and Just Societies: Building on a Historic Interreligious Statement on ISIL Accountability in Iraq

On 16 July, the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (OSAPG), the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh / ISIL (UNITAD) and Religions for Peace hosted a webinar aimed at presenting a recently adopted Inter-faith Statement on the Victims of ISIL. This inter-faith statement, endorsed by Shia, Sunni, Christian, Kakai and Yezidi religious leaders in Iraq, is the result of an initiative launched by OSAPG and UNITAD aimed at engaging religious leaders and actors in Iraq in the promotion of accountability and reconciliation in the country. 

A Story Writing Competition to Counter Identity-based Hate and Violence in South Sudan

Alongside the Writers Writing Fellowship, GAAMAC partner Rights for Peace ran a series of online workshops and a story writing competition for South Sudanese youth (14-35) between 22-26 June on using stories to counter intercommunal hate and violence. The winning story will be printed and distributed as a children’s storybook, as both a literacy resource and resource for countering hate speech and intercommunity violence.

Countering Misinformation and Promoting Peace in Refugee Camps in Uganda

Working with a youth action group in Adjumani district, Uganda, Rights for Peace are implementing an awareness campaign around COVID-19 to four refugee camps. By using posters, leafleting and a public-speaking campaign #StaySafeStayUnited, they have been sharing information on coronavirus, explaining the current social distancing measures in place, as well as health and safety advice.

Overcoming atrocities: An opportunity for change in Burundi

In this commentary, Elisabeth Pramendorfer, Senior Human Rights Officer at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, reflects on Burundi’s long legacy of atrocities, the current risks and the opportunities ahead to address them. 

WELCOMING NEW PARTNERS TO GAAMAC

The GAAMAC Steering Group warmly welcomes our newest partners: 

Impunity Watch is an international non-profit human rights organisation, seeking to promote accountability for past atrocities, notably in countries emerging from a violent past. IW analyses, advocates, and partners to help local communities seek accountability for gross human rights abuses and for systemic injustice, focusing on victims, survivors, and the most marginalised. IW seeks to strengthen their involvement in justice processes, and to put its skills, resources, and networks at the service of all who fight impunity, working directly with local civil society and victim groups.

The Oxford Programme on International Peace and Security (IPS) was established within the Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict to look beyond the threshold of armed conflict and contribute to our collective understanding of other forms of organized violence that threaten our international peace and stability. IPS provides a space for research on challenges facing the law, norms, and institutions affecting international peace and security, with particular focus on the prevention of mass atrocities.

Yazda is a U.S. based non-profit advocacy and humanitarian organization which established to create a support system for the religious minorities in conflict regions of Middle East. Yazda was established in 2014, after minorities in Iraq and Syria went under emergency and catastrophic circumstances. Yazda mission is to engage in advocacy with the international community to hold perpetrators accountable, and urge the States to protect their populations from genocide, and war crimes. Yazda conducts projects such as healthcare, Psycho-social, and education.

UPCOMING EVENTS