Washington, DC, 18 November 2022 – Genocide and atrocity crimes have long plagued societies around the world. To respond to these crimes, which continue to threaten peace and security around the world, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Nderitu, champions the prevention of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ms. Nderitu was in Washington this week to engage with the US Administration officials, civil society, and on Capitol Hill. She took a tour through the US Holocaust Memorial Museum exhibit, Burma’s Path to Genocide, led by Andrea Gittleman, Senior Program Manager for the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide. The Special Adviser emphasized the importance of early warning before atrocities take place. She also highlighted hate speech as one of the key issues. She stressed that “a lot of messaging on social media needs editorial guidelines and self-regulation is a responsibility for everyone. Even as we engage social media owners on this matter, we should not forget the role of traditional media.” The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech provides a roadmap to identify and combat hate speech.
At a public event at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), a key partner of the United Nations in Washington, the Special Adviser spoke about her work and the United Nations’ efforts to prevent genocide. In her speech, and the conversation with USIP Senior Program Officer Lauren Baillie, the Special Adviser focused on the need to turn genocide prevention from an international norm into a reality. Support to civil society actors, collaboration with Universal Period Review Process, on-the-ground fact-finding missions, and clear action plans, are key steps to take.
Ms. Nderitu also held bilateral meetings with various key partners. She met Robert Jenkins, Assistant to USAID Administrator, with the National Security Council, State Department, and the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
The United Nations continues to support Genocide Prevention and the work of the Office. There is a Strategic Framework to implement the mandates of the Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and on the Responsibility to Protect, with the overall objective of advancing national and international efforts to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, including their incitement.
