Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention

In this episode we sat down with Jonathan Fowler, Senior Communications Manager for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Jonathan provides insight into the current situation for Palestinians in Gaza, as well as an overview of the access constraints and other challenges humanitarian actors face in delivering aid. Highlighting the vital role of UNRWA in not just aid distribution, but also the provision of medical care, education and other support, he discusses how disinformation campaigns targeting UNRWA and subsequent funding cuts have severely limited the Agency's capacity.

In this episode we sat down with Leila Sadat, James Carr Professor of International Criminal Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Former Special Adviser to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor on Crimes Against Humanity, and Director of the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative.

She provides background information on the Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity and explains why this new proposed treaty is necessary in the current global climate. Leila also outlines how the international community can advance the process towards treaty negotiations with the aim of adopting a stand-alone treaty on Crimes Against Humanity.

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa and Regional Director at the National Democratic Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, DC. Dr. Fomunyoh discusses how and why elections and political transitions can serve as triggers for potential atrocities, and explains the range of risks that can arise during election periods. He outlines the steps that policymakers should take to better address and prevent election-related atrocity risks, highlighting some best practices from previous situations that can and should be applied to countries with upcoming elections and these risks.

In this episode we mark three years since the military coup in Myanmar by sitting down with Yanghee Lee, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and Co-Founder of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar. Yanghee reflects on her term as Special Rapporteur from 2014 to 2020, providing insights into the numerous developments that the people of Myanmar endured, and discusses the legacy of past abuses in Myanmar. She also shares her thoughts on the current crisis facing the country, as well as the steps that should be taken by the international community to better protect populations.

In this episode, we sat down with Philip Grant, Executive Director of TRIAL International. Philip shares the unique story behind the founding of TRIAL International and an overview of the organization's work in the pursuit of justice and accountability in the aftermath of atrocities across the world. He explains why all justice efforts, including criminal accountability, reparations and redress, are important to prevent recurrence and address the rights and needs of victims and survivors of atrocity crimes.

*As this episode makes reference to specific trials and dates, it should be noted that the interview was recorded in November 2023.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, we sat down with Naomi Kikoler, Director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. During this episode Naomi discusses the importance of monitoring and analyzing atrocity risks and how she and her Center work with decision-makers and states to build holistic atrocity prevention strategies and tools. She explains how lessons learned from the Holocaust inform her work and how to responsibly engage with survivor communities to honor their resilience. Naomi also shares her views on the enduring value of the commitments enshrined in the Genocide Convention when advocating on behalf of communities experiencing atrocities today.