Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – On Wednesday, March 5, 2014, Samantha Horn, AIPR's Director of Policy and Planning, presented the history and accomplishments of the Latin American Network for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention to civil society organizations and representatives of the international community. The event was held to consider and share best practices in the creation and consolidation of mechanisms for prevention and early warning of genocide and mass atrocities, such as regional support among states. During her presentation, Ms. Horn highlighted the Latin American Network as a mechanism of awareness, education, mutual cooperation and action in the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.

The Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN in Geneva organized the briefing as a side-event to the 25th regular session of the Human Rights Council. Other speakers included Ambassador Alberto D'Alotto, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations in Geneva, Minister Patricio Utreras, the Director of the Department of Human Rights in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, and UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng. Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador moderated the discussion.

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CALGARY, CANADA – On February 20, 2014, Dr. James Waller, AIPR Academic Programs Director and Cohen Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College, delivered a keynote address at "Understanding Atrocities: Remembering, Representing and Teaching Genocide," a conference hosted by Mount Royal University.

Waller's lecture, "The Dead End of Demonization," outlined how the practice of demonizing perpetrators of mass atrocities allows us to distance ourselves from the tough questions surrounding these deadly acts. While that distance may be psychological and emotionally comfortable, he said, it's of little help in understanding the motives and actions of those responsible. "Because it is reprehensible does not mean it is incomprehensible," said Dr. Waller.

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ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – On February 12, 2014, AIPR Director for Africa, Dr. Ashad Sentongo, was the featured speaker at a breakfast meeting with Addis Ababa-based political and security policy experts. The event, "Power-Sharing and Ethnic Conflict: Options of State Stability in South Sudan," was organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ethiopia to foster an exchange of opinions between experts towards generating concrete and practical policy recommendations to national and international institutions.

Dr. Sentongo's presentation highlighted an array of challenges to state stability in South Sudan. Pressing challenges include sustaining the January 2014 secession of hostilities agreement, intra-SPLM Party disputes, corruption, nepotism, abject poverty, illiteracy, and contradictions in the 2011 Transitional Constitution. Underscoring this challenge, said Sentongo, was a missed opportunity during discussions and implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to produce a political blueprint around which the new nation would be managed.

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NEW YORK, USA – AIPR Founder and President Fred Schwartz was recently awarded the 2013 Townsend Harris Medal for outstanding postgraduate achievement by the Alumni Association of The City College of New York/CUNY. Previous Townsend Harris Medalists include former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, Astronaut Mario Rancor, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Schwartz accepted the Harris Medal at the 133rd Annual CUNY Alumni Dinner, held at the New York Hilton on November 7, 2013. "We need to hold up and elevate affordable education," said Schwartz, referring to CUNY's tradition of offering inexpensive, yet prestigious degrees. "The greatest resource we have," he added, "is the human resource."

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