Atrocity Prevention

ELAC offers a focal point to scholars and practitioners interested in the prevention of atrocity crimes perpetrated against populations (these violations include genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing). Some of ELAC’s early work broke new ground by conceptualising atrocity prevention as ‘crimes prevention’, and distinct from conflict prevention; by creating a strategic framework to analyse both systemic and targeted prevention; and by analysing the conditions for effective prevention in particular cases. Through both normative and policy-oriented research, we monitor and analyse international action to prevent or halt ongoing atrocity crimes; explore strategic, tactical, and analytical challenges to the improvement of preventive capacity; support the adoption of preventive tools, strategies, and platforms; and ensure the coherent development of both normative agendas, and of international legal and policy standards.