June 2, 2009
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM AND U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE TO DISCUSS GENOCIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE AT CHICAGO–KENT COLLEGE OF LAW
Task Force co-chaired by Madeleine Albright and William Cohen developed blueprint to improve U.S. Government genocide prevention capabilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Genocide Prevention Task Force was jointly convened by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the United States Institute of Peace and The American Academy of Diplomacy to generate concrete recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s capacity to prevent and respond to emerging threats of genocide and mass atrocities. The Task Force, co-chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, issued its final report in December 2008. The report makes the case for why genocide and mass atrocities threaten core American values and national interests.
Task Force members John Heffernan, Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Genocide Prevention Initiative, and Lawrence Woocher, Senior Program Officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace, will discuss the report’s recommendations at Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers being held at Chicago-Kent College of Law on June 15.
“The Task Force report is a blueprint for how the U.S. government can improve its capacity to prevent mass atrocities and genocide,” said Heffernan. “We believe the public cares about this issue and hope to engage them in our efforts to make these recommendations a reality.”
Bartram S. Brown, Professor of Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law will also deliver remarks, and the discussion will be moderated by Ambassador David Scheffer.
The program will take place Monday, June 15, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, 10th Floor Event Room, 565 West Adams Street in Chicago. Media interested in attending the program should contact Jackie Berkowitz at 202.488.2637 or jberkowitz@ushmm.org. This is one of a series of public briefings being held around the country to educate the public about the Task Force and its recommendations. A copy of the report can be found at www.ushmm.org, www.usip.org or www.academyofdiplomacy.org.
This event is organized in cooperation with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Chicago-Kent College of Law, the United States Institute of Peace, and the United Nations Association of USA Greater Chicago Chapter.
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity and prevent genocide. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by the generosity of donors nationwide through legacy and annual giving. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.
The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase peacebuilding capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute does this by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding efforts around the globe.
