60 Faith, Human Rights, Humanitarian and Anti-Genocide Groups Call for Passage of Senate Bill to Prevent Genocide and Atrocities
Groups Declare Prevention Saves Lives, Protects U.S. Security
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sixty organizations called on the Senate today to pass the bipartisan Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act as a step toward saving lives, protecting United States security and developing long-term solutions to violent conflicts.
"We – the undersigned human rights, humanitarian, faith, anti-genocide, peace and other organizations – support the Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016, S.2551, introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and their colleagues," the statement declares. Among the signers are the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Enough Project, Invisible Children, Jewish World Watch, Mercy Corps, National Council of Churches, Oxfam America, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and United to End Genocide.
"Preventing genocide and mass atrocities is a core national security interest of the United States," declare the groups. According to the statement, the outbreak of violent conflict and atrocities has "resulted in increased instability with long-term consequences for countries and regions around the world, feeding into the possibility for repeated and expanded cycles of violence." However, "these threats to U.S. security and interests can be mitigated with robust investments in early prevention."
The legislation authorizes the Atrocities Prevention Board, establishes the Complex Crises Fund, requires training for Foreign Service Officers in violent conflict and atrocities prevention, and requires reporting from both the Department of State and Director for National Intelligence. The groups find "these are critical tools that are needed to prevent violent conflict and save lives."
Read the entire statement with the signatories.
A summary of the Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act can be found here. The full list of cosponsors of the bill includes Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is a nonpartisan Quaker lobby in the public interest. FCNL works with a nationwide network of tens of thousands of people from every state to advocate for social and economic justice, peace, and good government. Find out more at www.fcnl.org/successes
SOURCE Friends Committee on National Legislation
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