"This is an impossible mandate that must be made possible. Genocide, nearly always the result of identity-related conflicts, is one of the most heinous of crimes on which humanity must unite to prevent and punish. However, for the same reason, it evokes denial from both the perpetrators and those who would be called upon to intervene to prevent or stop it. This is why our strategy focuses on prevention, by responding to situations before positions harden into denial."
MR. FRANCIS DENG, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL ADVISER ON THE PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE
Mission Statement
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide acts as a catalyst to raise awareness of the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors where there is a risk of genocide and to advocate and mobilize for appropriate action.
What's New?
- OSAPG Analysis Framework
The Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has developed an Analysis Framework, as a guide to assist the staff to monitor and assess the risk of genocide in any given situation. The Framework is also a tool to assist partners who are in a position to share with the Office information relevant to the mandate. Preventing genocide is both a collective and an individual responsibility – the Special Adviser welcomes assistance of all actors to alert the United Nations to the risk of genocide and recommend action to prevent it. (19 October, 2009) - The Special Adviser has just completed a visit to Sudan, where he participated in the UN forum on the future of peace and unity in the country. Sudan is a country of concern to the United Nations generally, and the Special Adviser in particular, as there are strong indications that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which terminated the longest internecine conflict in Africa in 2005 may be unraveling, while at the same time inter-ethnic violence in Southern Sudan has worsened. The Special Adviser delivered a statement at a high-level forum in Khartoum on 3 November 2009.
- The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Mr. Francis Deng briefed the African Union Panel of the Wise in Addis Ababa on his work and mandate. In his Statement to the Panel, Mr. Deng emphasized the essence of developing early warning and prevention mechanism as the best course of action. He also underscored the need of focusing on regional and sub-regional approaches as the primary and most effective response mechanism in Africa.
- The Panel of the Wise in their Communiqué issued on 11th November 2009 called for incorporation of the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Analysis Framework into the African Union’s early warning mechanism