Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide

South Sudan is at risk for new mass atrocities due to ongoing armed conflict with identity-based targeting, a history of mass atrocities, and impunity for these crimes. Spillover effects of the war in neighboring Sudan and the human cost of severe weather events are exacerbating instability. In September, South Sudan announced it would postpone national elections by two years. The South Sudanese government should use this extension to promote accountability for contemporary and past crimes, including through credible transitional justice mechanisms. It should also end support by political actors for local armed groups, ensure transparency around political decisions, protect civic space, and take measures to support free and fair elections. A genuine commitment to atrocity prevention from South Sudan’s government and its regional and international partners is imperative. https://lnkd.in/dgbunvjv

We are excited to announce our new Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Research Fellowships. The program will provide $20,000 to pre-doctoral fellows and $30,000 to post-doctoral fellows. The fellowships will support early-career scholars who are filling gaps in policy-relevant knowledge of mass atrocity prevention strategies and tools. Fellows will draft a working paper and attend two workshops with other scholars and atrocity prevention practitioners. The deadline to apply is December 7, 2024. Email Daniel Solomon at?[email protected] with questions. https://lnkd.in/gyWGuYtk

Our latest report, An Uncertain Future: Preventing Mass Atrocities in Uganda, highlights the importance of early warning to prevent violence against civilians in Uganda over the next one to two years. We identify high-risk scenarios and potential triggers and offer recommendations for proactive intervention by the Ugandan government, civil society, and international partners. https://lnkd.in/gCy9R5Zn

Join our team! The Simon-Skjodt Center is hiring a program assistant to support our genocide prevention work and educate policy makers and the public about preventing mass atrocities. The deadline to apply is November 24. https://lnkd.in/gzEKBaQD

We are honored to share our new paper published in Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal. The authors outline ways to overcome common obstacles encountered in research about the effects of international atrocity prevention tools. The paper is based on conclusions from our review of nearly 400 studies of 12 atrocity prevention tools. https://lnkd.in/gZQ8gK85

One year ago, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, fearing for their safety, fled Azerbaijan after the military seized the region of Nagorno-Karabakh where they lived. Their escape was chaotic, dangerous, and for some, deadly. Today, those who fled and those who remained behind face an uncertain future. There are serious security concerns for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and insufficient funding to support refugees in Armenia. Read more about developments in the past year and ways for the international community to aid refugees, protect their rights, and investigate allegations of mass atrocity crimes. https://lnkd.in/grYSiu7X

Mass atrocities leave victims with profound pain and long-term requirements for support to rebuild their lives. Ambassador David Scheffer, Dr. Caroline Kaeb, and Madeline Babin explore how social bonds—financial instruments that raise funds for specific social projects while providing financial returns to investors—can provide essential support for victims. https://lnkd.in/gXibMegQ

Are you an educator? Explore our online exhibition, Burma’s Path to Genocide, along with a lesson plan and teaching materials. This exhibition explains how the Rohingya, a religious and ethnic minority in Burma, went from citizens to outsiders—and became targets of genocide. These online resources help students learn how government policies, the proliferation of hate speech, and other factors led to the persecution of the Rohingya, who are still at risk of genocide today. https://lnkd.in/gftgFYaX

Ten years after ISIL committed genocide against the Yezidis, it is not only trauma that remains. Yezidis have not received adequate support to find their missing, bury their dead, or see even a half-measure of justice. They face continued threats—to their safety and very existence—that will persist without consistent action to uproot legacies of bigotry and violence. https://lnkd.in/gSWNSSYU

In Chad, a disputed presidential election and multiple threats of armed conflict throughout the country have increased mass atrocity risks for civilians. Here are some key developments for policy makers to monitor. https://lnkd.in/gA8udHZ8