Organizational Statement of Support Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act

May 17, 2017

We – the undersigned human rights, humanitarian, faith, anti-genocide, peace and other organizations – support the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (DMd.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and their colleagues.

The bill establishes a Mass Atrocities Task Force, requires training for Foreign Service Officers in violent conflict and atrocities prevention, requires reporting from both the Department of State and Director for National Intelligence, and establishes the Complex Crises Fund. These are critical tools that are needed to ensure the U.S. government is able to more effectively prevent atrocities.

Preventing genocide and mass atrocities advances U.S. national security interests, saves taxpayer dollars, and saves lives. As Syria demonstrates, the outbreak of atrocities leads to significant consequences for countries and regions around the world, contributing to the rise in failed states and ungoverned spaces, feeding into the possibility for repeated cycles of violence, and resulting in expanded costs. The outbreak of such violence also undermines American leadership, values, and economic interests.

However, with high-level policy prioritization, and the right tools and resources, the U.S. government can work to more effectively prevent and respond early to the outbreak of atrocities. Importantly, we believe that the Elie Wiesel Act is a necessary step toward continuing long-standing bipartisan Congressional leadership in support of prevention by advancing a more comprehensive toolkit capable of addressing rising challenges.

We urge members of Congress to co-sponsor and quickly pass the Elie Wiesel Act into law.

1. Act for Sudan – Boston, Massachusetts
2. African Soul, American Heart – Fargo, North Dakota
3. Alliance for Peacebuilding – Washington, D.C.
4. American Psychological Association – Washington, D.C.
5. Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect – New York, New York
6. Armenian National Committee of America – Washington, D.C.
7. American Jewish Committee – Washington, D.C.
8. Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation – New York, New York
9. Better World Campaign – Washington, D.C.
10. CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center – Terre Haute, Indiana
11. Carl Wilkens Fellowship – multiple states
12. The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education – Cincinnati, Ohio
13. Center for Justice and Accountability – San Francisco, California
14. Charity & Security Network – Washington, D.C.
15. Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness – Washington, D.C.
16. Church World Service – National
17. Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College – Keene, New
Hampshire
18. Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action – Denver, Colorado
19. Conference of Superiors of Men (Catholic) – Silver Spring, Maryland
20. Darfur Action Group of South Carolina – Columbia, South Carolina
21. Darfur and Beyond – Phoenix, Arizona
22. Disciples Center for Public Witness – Washington, D.C.
23. The Educators’ Institute for Human Rights – Washington, D.C.
24. Friends Committee on National Legislation – Washington, D.C.
25. Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide – Atlanta, Georgia
26. Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect – New York, New York
27. Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Project – Rochester, New York
28. Humanity Is Us – New York, New York
29. iACT – Redondo Beach, California
30. International Crisis Group – Washington, D.C.
31. International Justice Project – Newark, New Jersey
32. Investors Against Genocide – San Francisco, California
33. Invisible Children – Washington, D.C.
34. Jewish World Watch – Los Angeles, California
35. JPIC Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia – Aston, Pennsylvania
36. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns – Washington, D.C.
37. Massachusetts Coalition for Darfur – Boston, Massachusetts
38. National Council of Churches – Washington, D.C.
39. Never Again Coalition – Portland, Oregon
40. Operation Broken Silence – Memphis, Tennessee
41. Oxfam America – Washington, D.C.
42. Pax Christi International – Washington, D.C.
43. PC(USA) Office of Public Witness – Washington, D.C.
44. Peace Direct – Washington, D.C.
45. Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
46. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – Washington, D.C.
47. Project C.U.R.E. – Denver, Colorado
48. Purchase College – Purchase, New York
49. Refugees International – Washington, D.C.
50. San Antonio Coalition Against Genocide – San Antonio, Texas
51. San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition – San Francisco, California
52. Search for Common Ground – Washington, D.C.
53. Shalom Austin – Austin, Texas
54. Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Institute Justice Team – Silver Spring, Maryland
55. STAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities – Washington, D.C.
56. Stop Genocide Now – Redondo Beach, California
57. United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries – Washington, D.C.
58. United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society – Washington, D.C.
59. U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants – Arlington, Virginia
60. World Without Genocide at Mitchell Hamline School of Law – St. Paul, Minnesota