FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Brown, associate director of communications, Enough Project
[email protected], 202-468-2925
WASHINGTON – The Enough Project welcomes the steps taken by President Obama to prevent mass atrocities and impose consequences on human rights violators, and looks forward to working with the Obama administration as it undertakes a comprehensive review to strengthen the United States’ ability to prevent mass atrocities.
"This is a crucial step by the Obama administration to institutionalize a more proactive response to mass atrocities," said Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast. "The test of course will be in the specific cases, but without the structural policy framework, the response to specific cases is much more idiosyncratic and unpredictable."
“By creating a standing interagency Atrocities Prevention Board the President is making concrete his statement that preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest." said Enough Executive Director John Bradshaw. “This is a historic step forward, but the Board will only fulfill its potential and have real impact on the ground in areas beset by violent conflict if it involves the most senior decision-makers.”
The President also added to the deterrents at the disposal of the United States by explicitly barring entry to the United States for participants in a broad array of human rights violations.
"For too long, a gap in U.S. legislation had allowed some perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to enter the United States," said Research Director David Sullivan. "President Obama has rightfully closed this gap and also enabled the U.S. to warn would-be perpetrators of the consequences of such actions."
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Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, the Enough Project focuses on crises in Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas of Africa affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. For more information, please visit www.enoughproject.org.