Publications related to the Prevention of Genocide and related crimes
Preventing Ethnic Genocide: A Policy Guidance Note
The Policy Guidance strongly recommends that national governments and various public and private institutions and companies develop their own context specific ethnic and racial inclusion policies. Proper implementation of this policy aims to assist in prevention of genocide by proactively mitigating conflict, building peace and ensuring cohesion and integration.
Comprehensive Training Manual on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) and its Implementation
This training manual aims to strengthen universal ratification and implementation of the Genocide Convention by offering practical guidance, recommendations, and case studies on ratification processes and national implementation measures.
Declaration of the Sudanese Women on Implementing The Plan of Action for Women in Communities to Counter Hate Speech and Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Genocide and related Crimes
Women from Sudan, being mediators, activists, lawyers, experts and practitioners in the field of peace and security, met in Kigali, Rwanda, committed to ensuring the voices of women and communities are engaged in ending the war in their country.
Promoting dialogue and mediation to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity
This resource focuses on how dialogue and mediation can play a crucial role in preventing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by promoting communication, addressing grievances, and fostering a global community of learning and practice.
Moving forward, whilst looking back
Reflections on the Effective Implementation of the Genocide ConventionThe thematic publication provides an overview of reflections on the effective implementation of the Genocide Convention, at its 75 year anniversary, stemming from: expert meetings organized on the legacy of the Convention, from the perspectives of prevention, punishment and memory; expert essays on the topic; a thematic paper from Yale University students, and expert panel remarks from the high-level event held at the United Nations Headquarters on 8 December 2023.
For media stakeholders in addressing hate speech and preventing incitement to violence that could lead to genocide
This Plan of Action, based on recommendations from the 2024 Kigali consultations, serves as a programmatic tool offering media stakeholders, journalists, communities, organizations, and state institutions practical guidance on addressing hate speech and preventing incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes.
Guidance Note on Persons with Disabilities October 2024 and Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
This Guidance Note aims to enhance the protection of persons with disabilities against the risk of international crimes, highlighting their specific vulnerabilities to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and hate speech, and offering recommendations to ensure their needs are integrated into prevention efforts in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
A Comprehensive Methodology for Monitoring Social Media to Address and Counter Online Hate Speech
This report introduces a standardized methodology for monitoring online hate speech, to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, including when it constitutes risks of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This methodology is based on an extensive review of existing methodologies used for this purpose across academia, technology companies, governments, the United Nations, and NGOs, and synthesizes those approaches into a standard set of practices that best fit the use cases relevant to the UN and its partners.
Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide
The Genocide Convention was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948, it codified for the first time the crime of genocide and signified the international community’s commitment to ‘never again’ after the atrocities committed during the Second World War. Its adoption marked a crucial step towards the development of international human rights and international criminal law as we know it today.
Plan of action for women in communities
The Plan of Action for Women in Communities was drafted from women’s perspectives which contributed to mainstreaming women’s voices and experiences in its entirety. Its goal is to ensure that women contribute more systematically and significantly, to countering hate speech and preventing incitement to violence that could lead to genocide and related atrocity crimes.
The game plan: Implementing the plan of actions to counter hate speech through engagement with sport
The Game Plan outlines strategies for addressing hate speech in sports by encouraging open dialogue, promoting respectful practices, engaging communities to prevent escalation, recognizing positive contributions from athletes, and providing training to identify and respond to hate speech at all levels.
Countering and addressing online hate speech: A guide for policy makers and practitioners
This policy paper outlines key recommendations for tech and social media companies, developed with the ESRC Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project, to address online hate speech in line with human rights standards and support the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.
A Conceptual Analysis of the Overlaps and Differences between Hate Speech, Misinformation and Disinformation
Commissioned by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations () and the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (OSAPG), and written by Dr. Claire Wardle from Brown University’s School of Public Health, the report aims to support both those working on the issues, as well as the general public to navigate hate speech, disinformation and misinformation in complex environments , by helping to clarify what these concepts mean, what they look like, and how best to respond.
The role of sports in countering hate speech
Compilation of statements as delivered at the United Nations event marking 9 December 2022 International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, and focused on the launch of the Game Plan, the Plan of Action for countering hate speech through sport.
Addressing hate speech through education: A guide for policy-makers | French | Russian | Spanish
This 2023 policy guide, developed by UNESCO and OSAPG and launched in Costa Rica, offers guidance to policymakers on strengthening education systems to counter hate speech through teacher training, inclusive curricula, and whole-school approaches that promote respectful global and digital citizenship.
Combating Holocaust and Genocide Denial: Protecting Survivors, Preserving Memory, and Promoting Prevention
This policy paper, informed by a 2021 expert session convened by OSAPG and the Jacob Blaustein Institute, provides recommendations for addressing Holocaust and genocide denial and distortion aligned with international human rights law.
Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes |[EN] [FR] [ES]
Key tool developed by the Office to assess the risk of atrocity crimes as well as atrocity prevention capacities and strategies. The Office encourages its use by international, regional and national actors.
When to refer to a situation as genocide
This brief note provides legal guidance for the UN system on the correct use of the term “genocide,” clarifying that while UN political organs support the Convention’s implementation, only appropriately mandated UN offices and officials can assess risks or occurrences of genocide under international law.
Plan of action for religious leaders | [AR] [ZH] [EN | Fez Plan of Action] [FR] [ES]
The Plan of Action guides religious leaders and relevant actors on monitoring, preventing, and countering incitement to violence by offering recommendations organized into three clusters focused on prevention, strengthening, and building efforts.
United Nations strategy and plan of action on hate speech | [AR] [ZH] [EN] [FR] [ES][RU]
The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech sets out strategic guidance for the UN system to address hate speech at the national and global level. It also includes ways the UN Secretariat can support the work of the Resident Coordinators in addressing and countering hate speech.
Detailed guidance on implementation of the UN strategy and plan of action for United Nations field presences
The Detailed Guidance provides recommendations on how to implement the 13 commitments set out in the UN Strategy as well as options for action that the United Nations can take in field contexts, building on existing tools and programmes, as well as good practices from within the United Nations system and other partners.
United Nations guidance note on addressing and countering COVID-19 related hate speech | [EN] [FR]
The guidance note follows the Secretary-General’s global appeal to address and counter hate speech on 8 May 2020 and builds on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. It provides recommendations to Member States, civil society, media and other relevant stakeholders for addressing and countering COVID-19-related hate speech.