Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention

In this episode we sat down with Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda. Natia details the crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or Da'esh) against the Yazidi population and other minorities in Iraq from 2014 to 2017. She recounts how the tireless advocacy by victims and survivors helped establish the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and explores how UNITAD’s investigative and analytical work has been central to advancing justice for the Yazidi genocide. Natia concludes with outlining lessons learned and what the international community must do to revitalize efforts for justice and accountability following the closure of UNITAD on 17 September.

In this episode we sat down with Ardi Imseis, Professor of International Law at Queens University, legal counsel to the State of Palestine in their case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and former member of the UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen. Ardi explains the legal significance of the ICJ’s most recent advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, including how and why the Court’s findings mark an important step in Palestinians’ decades-long struggle for freedom. Ardi also articulates the obligations placed on the international community and provides his perspective on what steps they must take to protect Palestinian populations.

In this episode, we sat down with Mark Kersten, Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation and founder and author of the Justice in Conflict website. Mark reflects on current trends in international justice, sharing analysis of recent progress in accountability as well as on the ways in which the international community has struggled to meet the demands of justice in the aftermath of atrocity crimes. He also provides recommendations on how states can better facilitate justice to affected communities.

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.

In this episode, we mark the one year anniversary of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that halted the fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region on 3 November. The episode begins with an overview of the crimes committed during the conflict with our Ethiopia expert, Sarah Hunter. Sarah also outlines why the international community must continue to monitor the crises in the country.

We then sat down with Radhika Coomaraswamy, an esteemed international lawyer who previously served as the UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict and recently acted as a Commissioner on the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE). Radhika discusses the Commission's findings since its creation in 2021 and reflects on efforts needed to ensure accountability following the abrupt end to ICHREE's mandate. We end the conversation by assessing the risk of further atrocities in Ethiopia.