Geneva: Task Force’s Report presented at the United Nations – “Prevention of Mass Atrocities – Regional Perspectives”

Friday 8 March 2013 14:00 – 17:00
Palais des Nations, room XXIII
United Nations

The Permanent Missions of Hungary, United States of America and Ethiopia and the Delegation of the European Union
in cooperation with the Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
have the honour to invite you to a Side event of the Human Rights Council
on “Prevention of Mass Atrocities – Regional Perspectives”

The ongoing efforts of regional bodies and actors to build up global, regional and national capabilities and create synergies to prevent mass atrocities are key elements to addressing in a timely manner these threats.
For the last few years the European Union, including the European External Action Service and the African Union have also devoted specific attention to the prevention of violent conflicts and the development of tools to address these challenges. At this event, the Ambassador of Ethiopia will give a short presentation about the legal framework of the African Union with regard to genocide and mass atrocities prevention. The Head of the EU Delegation will also present an introductory statement.

In 2012, the United States launched its Atrocities Prevention Board to implement recommendations of the 2010 Presidential Study Directive 10, in which President Obama declared the prevention of mass atrocities and genocide a “core national interest” for the United States. These actions reorganize the U.S. government so that it can better examine the questions and factors which lead situations of conflict to develop potential for mass atrocities.

At the initiative of the Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities a Task Force prepared a report on the EU’s capabilities to prevent mass atrocities, presented a few days ago in Brussels. The Co-chair of the Task Force will present the Report of the Task Force on the EU capabilities.

This will be followed by a panel discussion, in which representatives of the UN OHCHR, Canada as Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Task Force, Nigeria, and the United States will brief participants on international, regional and national efforts, political challenges for building up capabilities and promoting the cooperation of international players to better prevent mass atrocities.

AGENDA

14.00 – 14.15
Welcome speeches

H.E. András Dékány, Permanent Representative of Hungary (Hungary PR’s_Statement.pdf)

H.E. Mr. Remigiusz Henczel, President of the Human Rights Council, Permanent Representative of Poland
(Poland PR : President HRC’s_Statement.pdf)

H.E. Mrs. Mariangela ZAPPIA, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN

14,15 – 14.30
Presentation of the legal framework in Africa with regard to genocide and mass atrocities prevention by

H.E. Mr. Alemu Minelik Getahun,
Permanent Representative of Ethiopia

14.30 – 15.00
Presentation of the report, “The EU and the prevention of mass atrocities – An assessment of strengths and weaknesses”, by

Prof. Karen E. Smith, Co-Chair of the Task Force, (London School of Economics)

15.00 – 15.30
Q and A session

15.30 – 16.30
Presentation of regional efforts in preventing mass atrocities

Moderator:

Mr. György Tatár
Executive Director of the Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities

Participants:

Mr. Mario Silva,
Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Task Force (Canada)
(Da Silva’s_Statement.pdf)

H.E. Mr. Umunna Humphrey Orjiako
Permanent Representative of Nigeria
(Nigeria PR’s_Statement.pdf)

Mrs. Jane Connors, Chief of the Special Procedures Branch of OHCHR

Mr. Eric N. Richardson,
former Chair of the State Department Task Force for the US Atrocity Prevention Board

16.30 – 17.00
Discussion