A Time to Reflect and a Call to Action

By Cassidy Regan on 04/15/2011 @ 11:00 AM

Tags: Peaceful Prevention

April is Genocide Prevention Month – and it’s particularly timely in 2011. Though much of the violence currently making headlines has not been that of genocide, recent crises provide a reminder of the importance of peaceful prevention on a broad scale – be it to address civil war, ethnic conflict, or interstate hostility.

Still, genocide prevention remains an effort in deep need of international attention and action. Through commemorative anniversaries of the Holocaust and the Armenian, Bosnian, Cambodian, and Rwandan genocides, leaders and communities across the world will take this month's opportunity to reflect on the continued relevance of "Never Again." Often seen as history's greatest failures in civilian protection, these atrocities serve as a further call to strengthen global capacity to build sustainable peace.

But when considering the significance of Genocide Prevention Month – both to the international community and at home in the United States – it’s as important to acknowledge achievements as it is to think critically about how efforts might be improved. Two of those most recently celebrated by FCNL include the 25th anniversary of the US ratification of the UN Genocide Convention and, more recently, the passage of the Genocide Prevention Resolution (S Con Res 71) by unanimous consent in the US Senate. Slowly but surely, progress towards more effective conflict prevention policy continues.

In practical terms, the world has also seen successful cases of peaceful prevention efforts on the ground. From Peru to Burundi, governments, civil society members, and grassroots volunteers have worked to create initiatives that reduce the threat of violent and deadly conflict.

Another victory in conflict prevention – that of Kenya’s progress since its election crisis in 2008 – provides both evidence of success and opportunity for further effort. In response to violence following disputed electoral results, Kenyan leaders – as well as Kenyan citizens – took significant steps to restore their country to a state of stability and peace. While former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan led the brokering of a peace agreement, members of civil society formed organizations to aid people who were internally displaced. By the time a constitutional referendum was held in August of 2010, Kenya was able to emerge without a deadly conflict – and with a host of democratic reforms.

With a new round of elections approaching, however, Kenya continues to face potential for renewed instability. In anticipation of 2012, political leaders have already begun to capitalize on the ethnic tensions that encouraged much of the violence in 2008. Using tribal rhetoric as a means of procuring support, many threaten to undo all that has been achieved.

In preventing election violence from developing into full-fledged genocide, Kenya acts as a beacon for those seeking peaceful reconciliation. Simultaneously, it demonstrates that genocide prevention must remain an ongoing effort. The Friends Church Peace Team (an organization that sent a visitor to FCNL last month) is one of many groups that continue to work towards peace, through efforts including Alternatives to Violence workshops and the development of an early warning system for election-related conflict. Moreover, such initiatives have been complemented with support from the international community – one example being that of the US Complex Crises Fund’s financing of grassroots peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts in one of the regions most affected by the 2008 violence.

As April hits its halfway mark, there’s no better message to highlight than that of Kenya: genocide can be preventable and, with continued engagement and support, prevention can be sustainable. Though lasting peace must come from within, Genocide Prevention Month encourages the international community to recognize both the wide impact that mass atrocities have and the role that global solidarity can play in preventing them. While it may at times seem out of reach, the pursuit of Never Again continues to ring true.