Sec. 2031. Atrocities Prevention Board

553 words·~3 min read·/bill/113/hr/1793/ih/section-2031

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Congress makes the following findings: Non-combatants comprise most of the casualties in modern conflict. In many cases, civilian deaths are the result of belligerents deliberately targeting civilians on a wide scale. Civilians are vulnerable both during interstate conflict and intrastate situations, such as civil wars, insurgencies, and anarchic conditions associated with failed states. There are common variables to situations giving rise to atrocities, including past history of such occurrences, persistence of articulated and non-articulated tensions, and poor or malevolent leadership.

Most tellingly, atrocities—including genocide—often occur when displaced persons attempt to flee conflict. The United States is committed to working with our allies, and to strengthening our own internal capabilities, in order to ensure that the United States and the international community are proactively engaged in a strategic effort to prevent mass atrocities and genocide. In the event that prevention fails, the United States will work both multilaterally and bilaterally to mobilize diplomatic, humanitarian, financial, and—in certain instances—military means to prevent and respond to genocide and mass atrocities.

Preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States. United States security is affected when masses of civilians are slaughtered, refugees flow across borders, and murderers wreak havoc on regional stability and livelihoods. Governmental engagement on atrocities and genocide too often arrives too late, when opportunities for prevention or low-cost, low-risk action have been missed. Ensuring that a full range of options is available to senior policy makers requires a level of governmental organization that matches the methodical organization characteristic of mass killings.

The President shall establish an Interagency Atrocities Prevention Board (in this section referred to as the Board ) with the following responsibilities: Coordinate and synchronize a whole of government approach to preventing mass atrocities. Integrate the early warning systems of national security agencies, including intelligence agencies, with respect to incidents of mass atrocities and coordinate the policy response to such incidents. Conduct gaming and contingency planning exercises regarding atrocities prevention and response.

Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive atrocities prevention and response strategies. Identify available resources and policy options necessary to prevent the emergence or escalation of mass atrocities, including— foreign assistance; diplomatic initiatives; deployment of civilian expertise; use of sanctions; and military options. Identify and close gaps in expertise, readiness, and planning for atrocities prevention and early action across Federal agencies.

Ensure that risk assessments and policies to mitigate identified risks are communicated in a timely fashion to the relevant Federal agencies and integrated into activities. The Board shall be headed by a senior director selected by the President, and who shall report to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor ). The senior director shall have primary responsibility for promoting United States Government policies to protect individuals affected by conflict and atrocities and carrying out the responsibilities identified in subsection (b).

The Board shall be composed of representatives from the following agencies, and such others as the President determines appropriate: The Department of Defense. The United States Agency for International Development. The Department of State. The Department of Justice. The Department of the Treasury. The Department of Homeland Security. The Central Intelligence Agency. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The United States Mission to the United Nations.