Boston debate on preventing genocide

Most discussions about genocide take place after the fact, lamenting that the latest atrocity wasn't anticipated and avoided. An unusual initiative that seeks to look forward to prevent future genocides will be up for public discussion on Tuesday evening at the Boston Public Library.

Last December, an American group called the Genocide Prevention Task Force issued its final report, offering a range of proposals on how to stop further genocides. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the BPL, two members of the task force will present the findings and ask for input on taking the process forward.

Here's a link to the complete task force report, starting with the executive summary.

The two task force members visiting Boston are John Heffernan of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Lawrence Woocher of the United States Institute of Peace.

Swanee Hunt, the Cambridge human rights campaigner and former US ambassador, will also deliver remarks, and the program will be moderated by Meghan O’Sullivan of the Kennedy School of Government.

The Task Force was co-chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and William Cohen, the former Maine senator and former defense secretary. The report was convened by the Museum, the USIP and the American Academy of Diplomacy.

The Task Force team is holding holding public programs like this one nationwide to build awareness and offer ways for the public to get involved.

The recommendations include creating alert systems that enable governments to spot and respond quickly to emerging potential genocides, and preparing the right military responses as well as diplomatic initiatives.

Heffernan says in announcing Tuesday's forum: “The Task Force report is a blueprint for how the U.S. government can improve its capacity to prevent mass atrocities and genocide. We believe the public cares about this issue and hope to engage them in our efforts to make these recommendations a reality.”