Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress makes the following findings: The nature of genocide and other atrocity crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, includes shocking acts of violence perpetrated by governments and non-state actors, which have killed millions of civilians and other innocent individuals. The commitment to prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes has been a centerpiece of policy by consecutive administrations of the United States Government. The United States was the first country in the world to sign the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, signed at Paris December 9, 1948, and President Ronald Reagan signed implementing legislation allowing the United States to become a party to the Convention on November 25, 1988.
In the 2006 National Security Strategy, President George W. Bush highlighted the moral imperative that states take action to prevent and punish genocide . In 2008, the bipartisan Genocide Prevention Task Force, which was co-chaired by former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright— stated genocide and mass atrocities also threaten core U.S. national interests ; and recommended the creation of a new standing interagency mechanism for analysis of threats [of genocide and other mass atrocities] and coordination of appropriate preventive action .
In December 2010, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 71, which recognized the United States national interest in helping to prevent and mitigate acts of genocide and other mass atrocities against civilians, and supporting and encouraging efforts to develop a whole of government approach to prevent and mitigate such acts . In 2012, President Obama, in Presidential Study Directive 10, which ordered the creation of the Atrocities Prevention Board, stated that he would ensure that the United States Government has the required structures, tools, and mechanisms to better prevent and respond to atrocity crimes.
In February 2014, James Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence, stated in his annual national security threat assessment to Congress— The overall risk of mass atrocities worldwide will probably increase in 2014 and beyond. ; Many countries at risk of mass atrocities will likely be open to influence to prevent or mitigate them. ; and Much of the world will almost certainly turn to the United States for leadership to prevent and respond to mass atrocities. . In February 2016, former Director of National Intelligence Clapper stated, in his annual national security threat assessment to Congress, Risks of atrocities, large-scale violence, and regime-threatening instability will remain elevated in 2016. .
The United States can strengthen its atrocity crimes prevention and peacebuilding efforts by— supporting civil society which serves a central role in promoting nonviolent conflict resolution and supporting early warning; enhancing cooperation and understanding among ethnic and religious groups, communities, and factions; working with the international community to ensure shared responsibility by enhancing multilateral and regional mechanisms that seek to prevent genocide and other atrocity crimes; promoting effective accountability mechanisms to deter individuals and entities that may incite or commit genocide or other atrocity crimes; and implementing policies that hold accountable individuals and entities that incite or commit genocide or other atrocity crimes.