Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded the Senate for passing the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act (S.1158). Named after Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, the bill ensures the U.S. government is equipped with the most constructive and cost-effective tools to address the root causes of violent conflict.
Contact: Tim McHugh, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2515
“This bill embodies the Quaker foundations of peace, equality, simplicity, and truth—the basic principles of our advocacy,” said Diane Randall, FCNL Executive Secretary. “After nearly a decade of work to move our nation from fighting wars to preventing them, I am encouraged by the bipartisan leadership Congress has shown in moving this bill forward.”
Introduced in 2017, the bill ensures coordination among U.S. government departments to prevent global atrocities from occurring and mandates training for Foreign Service Officers to identify early warning signs of genocide. The bill also requires the president to update Congress on measures to lessen violence in specific countries, funding related to conflict prevention initiatives, and a global assessment of instability, conflict, and atrocities.
“Unfortunately, global violence is on the rise, and the U.S. has often prioritized militarization over diplomacy, development, and peacebuilding,” explained Theo Sitther, FCNL’s Legislative Secretary for Peacebuilding Policy. “The Senate passage of the Elie Wiesel Act brings us one step closer to building a more peaceful world. American action to prevent mass atrocities and genocide saves lives, saves taxpayer dollars, and is good for our national security.”
Since the now Senate-passed bill differs slightly from a companion House-measure that passed this summer, the Senate version will likely move to the House for approval before it can be signed into law. For 75 years, FCNL has worked to build pathways to peace, advocating for policies that enable the U.S. to prevent, reduce, transform, and help people recover from violence in all forms.
For more information, please visit www.fcnl.org.
