Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act introduced to Senate

Earlier this month Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016, S. 2551. The act aims to help prevent acts of genocide and mass atrocities, which threaten national and international security,  by enhancing U.S. civilian capacities to prevent and mitigate such crises.

S. 2551 sets out three steps to shift from genocide and atrocity response to genocide and atrocity prevention. The act codifies the interagency Atrocities Prevention Board, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to emerging and ongoing atrocities. The act also authorizes the Complex Crisis Fund to allow for flexible funding that enables the U.S. to better respond to possible mass atrocity situations. S. 2551 also requires Foreign Service Officers to receive special training on atrocity prevention before deploying to at-risk countries.

The act has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

For more information on this Act, please follow the links below.
S. 2551 – Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016, Congress.gov
Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Act Introduced, Humanity United
Senate Introduces the Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, Enough