Senator Ben Cardin, joined by Senator Thom Tillis and several others, has introduced legislation that would authorize a permanent, inter-agency Atrocities Prevention Board that will focus the U.S. government at the highest levels on early prevention of violent conflict as an essential part of our national security strategy.
Why should senators support this legislation?
1. Engage the highest levels of the U.S. government
The Atrocities Prevention Board is a high-level working group that ensures coordination between the Pentagon, State, Treasury, Homeland Security, Justice, USAID, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, CIA, Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and National Security Council.
2. Prevent violence
The Atrocities Prevention Board has mobilized staff and funding for violence prevention and mitigation in the Central African Republic and Burundi. It continues to do long-term prevention work in other countries.
3. Save money
Legislation permanently authorizing the Atrocities Prevention Board saves money in the long-term by prioritizing prevention, helping to avoid costly response efforts later on.
4. Protect our troops
We have an obligation as a country to explore every opportunity to avoid sending our military into war. The Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act organizes our government to focus on early prevention to avoid late military intervention.
5. Continue congressional leadership and oversight
The Senate has been a lead voice in encouraging strong action to better prevent and respond to genocide and mass atrocities. The Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act would continue this leadership and oversight role.
In 2010, S.Con.Res.71 passed unanimously with bipartisan co-sponsors, urging the creation of what would become the Atrocities Prevention Board. In 2015, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved the State Department Authorization Act, S.1635, which would authorize the Atrocities Prevention Board.
6. Build on bipartisan consensus
Support for the prevention of genocide has a long history, going back to efforts by President Ronald Reagan to ratify the Genocide Convention. Every President since Reagan has spoken about the importance of preventing genocide and mass atrocities.
