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Office of The Special Adviser on The Prevention of Genocide

Work of the Office

Training Programme

Regional training seminar for civil society in Budva,
Montenegro, from 10-11 October 2012
UN Photo / Mallory Mroz

Since 2009, the Office has been organizing training for UN staff, government officials and civil society in order to assist in developing capacity to analyze and manage information on genocide. war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, in particular within the United Nations system. This work is carried out in line with the Office’s mandate and as part of its broader efforts to raise awareness about the causes and dynamics of genocide and other atrocity crimes and to mainstream their prevention. The training program aims to facilitate and stimulate discussion on effective and practical means and ways in which participants possessing different roles, skills and experience could contribute to prevention of genocide and related atrocities in the region in which they are working. The Office also collaborates with other training institutions to organize workshops and seminars for government officials and civil society.

The seminars focus on key aspects of preventing and responding to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels. They cover aspects of the principles of the Responsibility to Protect; the function and methodology of the United Nations early-warning mechanism for genocide prevention; the process of genocide from a socio-historical and human rights perspective, and genocide as an extreme form of identity-related conflict, the prevention of which calls for constructive management of diversity.

If your organization is interested in participating in the Office’s training activities, please contact us at osapg@un.org.

Key training seminars conducted by the Office to date include:

On 7 February 2013, the Office contributed a module to a training programme for officials from the American State Department who will be deployed to countries at risk of atrocity crimes. The training included an explanation of the Office’s framework of analysis, including risk factors for atrocity crimes, as well as early warning mechanisms and policy options and measures that could be taken to prevent atrocity crimes. The training was held in Washington, DC.

On 23-24 January 2013, the Office collaborated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to hold a two-day intensive workshop at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the prevention of genocide for United Nations staff and members of delegations to the United Nations as well as practitioners and representatives from civil society. The seminar included modules on the applicable international legal framework and elements of the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as strategies for the prevention of genocide and related crimes, including measures currently undertaken by the United Nations.

On 7 January 2013, the Office contributed to an intensive training session of the newly-established United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre which convenes analysts from across the United Nations system to produce integrated assessment papers related to crisis situations to inform decision-making. The contribution of the Office focuses on information management and assessment methodology for early warning of atrocity crimes.

As part of its partnership with the Clingendael Institute, the Office contributed a one day training module to a two-week long training seminar for 15 government officials from Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat on 5 December 2012. The module focused on key aspects of preventing and responding to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels, including through the lens of the responsibility to protect. It also provided an overview of the functions and methodology of the UN early-warning mechanism for the prevention of these crimes and violations.
From 25 November to 1 December 2012, the Office conducted a seven-day training seminar for 24 representatives from civil society working in the Middle East. The workshop focused on the legal framework for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, risk factors for these crimes and policy options for civil society to implement the responsibility to protect. The training also included modules on the documentation of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including sexual violence. Academics, as well as international experts and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Institute for Criminal Investigations and Human Rights Watch contributed to the seminar.
In support of the Latin American Network for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, the Office co-organized two one-day training seminars on 26-30 November 2012 for some 30 government officials in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in Montevideo, Uruguay, in partnership with the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR). Both seminars focused on preventing and responding to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels as well as measures that could be taken to prevent these crimes. In Buenos Aires, the seminar included government departments likely to be members of a future National Mechanism on the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocity Crimes. Participants discussed the structure and terms of reference of the Mechanism, the latter will be included in the draft presidential decree for the establishment of this inter-governmental body. In Montevideo, participants included representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Justice.
On 19 November 2012, the Office contributed a one-day training module to a two-week long training session, organised by the Clingendael Institute for some 15 government officials from North Africa. Held in The Hague, Netherlands, the module focused on key aspects of the functions and methodology of the UN early-warning mechanism for prevention of as well as the policy options available for government officials, with different roles and responsibilities could take to contribute to preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels.
On 11-17 November 2012, the Office co-organised, with the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR), a week-long training seminar in Auschwitz, Poland, for some 25 government officials and representatives from regional and sub-regional organisations from around the world. The objective of this seminar was to familiarize participants with the concept of genocide and related crimes; provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and prevent the risk of genocide and engage in transitional justice mechanisms; reinforce the concept of the responsibility to protect; and contribute to a global network of genocide-sensitive policymakers.
In the context of its partnership with the Clingendael Institute, the Office contributed a one-day training module on 9 November 2012 to a two-week long training seminar for some 15 mid-level government officials from South Africa. The seminar focused on the work of the Office as well as issues in global governance. In particular, the presentation explored frameworks for preventing and responding to the risk of atrocity crimes as well as the role of the United Nations, regional and sub-regional organisations and Member States for prevention and response.
On 26 October 2012, the Office contributed a one-day training module to a two-week long training session for some ten government officials from Indonesia, organised by the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, Netherlands. The module focused on key aspects of preventing and responding to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels, including through the lens of the responsibility to protect. It also provided an overview on the functions and methodology of the UN early-warning mechanism for prevention of these crimes and violations.

Together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and a non-governmental organisation, Nonviolent Peaceforce, the Office contributed to a regional training workshop, held in Egypt, on inter-communal peace building and the responsibility to protect for civil society in the Middle East. Topics discussed included non-violent approaches to conflict analysis, conflict resolution, confidence building between communities and atrocity prevention, as well as different dimensions of the responsibility to protect.
On 29 June 2012, the Office contributed to the twelfth summer course on International Humanitarian Law organized by the International Institute for Humanitarian Law (IIHL), in San Remo, Italy for some 50 government officials, representatives from non-governmental organizations and UN field staff. The seminar focused on key aspects of preventing and responding to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the international, regional and domestic levels, including through the lens of the responsibility to protect. It also provided information on the functions and methodology of the UN early-warning mechanism for prevention of these crimes and violations.
In partnership with the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, the Office co-organised a one-week training seminar for 22 government officials from 16 countries from 27 May to 2 June 2012 in Auschwitz, Poland on the causes and dynamics of genocide and related crimes and violations and the measures that could be taken to prevent them.
On 13 November 2011, the Office contributed a day of training as part of a one-week seminar co-organized with the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation for 22 government officials from 17 countries from around the world. The goals of the seminar were to familiarize participants with the concept of genocide and related crimes; provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and prevent the risk of genocide and engage in transitional justice mechanisms; reinforce the norm of the Responsibility to Protect; and contribute to a global network of genocide-sensitive policymakers.
On 11-30 October 2011, the Office organized an outreach mission to Southeast Asia. The Office organized seven capacity-building workshops in three countries for 92 government officials, United Nations staff and representatives from civil society organizations. The objective of the workshops was to facilitate discussions on effective and practical means for participants with different roles, mandates and responsibilities to contribute to preventing genocide and related crimes, including in collaboration with Member States, regional organizations, the UN and civil society.
On 7 October 2011, the Office organized an abbreviated seminar for some ten United Nations staff who are members of the Expert Reference Group of the United Nations Inter-Agency Framework Team for Preventive Action. The training consisted of presentations focusing on key aspects of prevention and response, both at the international and domestic levels. The seminar also facilitated a discussion on the function and methodology of the United Nations early-warning mechanism on genocide and mass atrocities. It also addressed socio-historical dynamics and entry points for mass atrocity prevention and response.
From 25-29 July 2011, the Office conducted three seminars in Juba, South Sudan for UN officials, civil society groups, and the Government of South Sudan, including officials from the South Sudan Human Rights Commission, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA). The training providing a forum for the 65 participants to learn about early warning systems to prevent mass atrocities and enabled them to contribute to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities in the newly independent country.
On 1 July 2011, the Office contributed to the eleventh summer course on International Humanitarian Law organized by the International Institute for Humanitarian Law (IIHL), based in San Remo, Italy. About 50 government officials, NGO representatives and UN field staff were trained on genocide prevention, including early warning and risk assessment.
From 27-29 June 2011, the Office collaborated with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy to host a training seminar entitled “Preventing and Responding to the Threat of Mass Atrocities under the Principles of R2P” for officials from 20 Permanent Missions in Geneva as well as a seminar for 30 civil society organizations active in the field of human rights, minority issues, humanitarian affairs, peace and security, and conflict prevention.
From 20-24 June 2011, the Office supported the Sarajevo-based Centre for Justice and Reconciliation in the organization of a training seminar in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 civil society participants active in the field of dialogue and conflict prevention. The Office also conducted a seminar for officials of international organizations and the United Nations.
On 27 and 29 April 2011, the Office conducted two specialized seminars for representatives of Permanent Missions in New York entitled “Preventing and Responding to Genocide and Mass Atrocities.” Participants from 41 Member States discussed concrete measures to strengthen political will in the fight against mass atrocities.
On 15-16 March 2011, the Office organized training seminars in Kyrgyzstan for government officials and representatives from UN country teams and civil society organisations working in Central Asia. Over 100 participants learned about genocide and mass violence from a socio-historical approach. Drawing on historical and contemporary case studies, participants learned about preventive options to mitigate the risk of genocide during normal times and during impending crises.
On 9 December 2010, the 62nd anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Office held a training seminar for 30 staff from the United Nations Headquarters and international non-governmental organizations in New York City.
On 3-4 November 2010, in cooperation with a network of international NGOs, the Office organized a training seminar for 35 civil society representatives on the sidelines of the international conference organized by Oxfam Australia on “Early Warning for Protection: Technologies and practise for the prevention of mass atrocity crimes”, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
On 20 and 22 September 2010, in collaboration with OHCHR and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), which brings together 11 States, the Office organized a training seminar for 20 UN staff from the Great Lakes region working on human rights and protection, and another for state representatives of the ICGLR and Ugandan civil society organisations. The objectives of the second seminar included the creation of a network of state representatives at the regional level specializing in genocide prevention and strengthening the capacity of ICGLR member states.
On 2 July 2010, the Office contributed to the tenth summer course on International Humanitarian Law organized by the International Institute for Humanitarian Law (IIHL), based in San Remo, Italy, at which 50 government officials, NGOs and UN field staff were trained on genocide prevention, including early warning and risk assessment. The IIHL has included a genocide prevention component in its course curriculum since 2009.
From 22-25 June 2010, the Office contributed to a week -long course on “Mass atrocity prevention in military practice” for the US Armed Forces Fort Leavenworth Command and General Staff College students organized by the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. The course focused on familiarizing some 20 army officers with the concept of genocide prevention and the analytical tools and means to prevent genocide that they will have at their disposal in their military careers.
On 18-20 April 2010, the Office held three one-day training seminars in Bogota, Colombia, for OHCHR staff working in Colombia, Chile and Guatamala and the Colombia UN Country Team on “A Framework for Genocide Prevention.” Approximately 50 UN staff participated, including national and international staff. Participants learned about genocide and mass atrocities, gained an understanding of the working methodology of the Office (notably the Analysis Framework for the crime of genocide) and discussed practical and effective ways they could contribute to preventing mass atrocities in Latin America.