Recommendations & Conclusions
30 items
1
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
Mass atrocities not only reflect deep inhumanity but undermine global stability at a time when population displacement is more pronounced than at any point since World War Two. Key trends today may fuel greater violence, for instance climate change, threats to democracies and the involvement of non-state actors in conflict. …
Government response. The Government agrees that in its efforts to prevent mass atrocities the full range of tools, multilateral or otherwise, should be considered, and decisions should be made based on the context. The Government will continue to use multilateral mechanisms wherever …
2
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
Despite the UN Security Council’s role in protecting populations and its considerable powers, it faces gridlock in practice. The threat of an UNSC permanent member exercising its veto constrains international action to prevent and end “conscience- shocking” mass atrocities, which raises fears of an ‘age of impunity’. The UK Government …
Government response. The government values its partnerships on atrocity prevention, including with the United States. They are also engaging with the Global Network of R2P Focal Points and have provided funding to the Global Centre for R2P.
3
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
In 2019, the Government set out the tools that it can use to prevent mass atrocities, even at a time of multilateral gridlock. These tools include early warning mechanisms, diplomacy to de-escalate tensions, development support to address the root causes of conflict, and defence and policing tools.
Government response. The government recognizes atrocity prevention as separate from conflict and that the OCSM seeks to identify and work with convergences between conflict prevention and atrocity prevention where they exist but provides for dedicated focus where they are distinct. The UK …
4
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
Since 2019, the Government’s approach to preventing mass atrocities has become clearer. In particular, welcome changes were implemented in the course of this inquiry. The Government has launched the Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (OCSM), which will contain a new hub to consider atrocity prevention. This hub will pilot …
Government response. The government agrees with the importance of a comprehensive whole-of- government approach to mass atrocity prevention but cannot commit to developing a written strategy at this time. They state the Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub is directing resource towards implementation across …
5
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The UK must do more. A new cross-departmental strategy to prevent mass atrocities offers opportunities. It can drive greater coherence between existing policy initiatives on human protection. As the UK will not always be able to prevent mass atrocities, a strategy can also clarify the metrics by which the UK …
Government response. The government acknowledges there must be cohesion and consistency between its approaches to atrocity prevention and conflict prevention, whilst being aware of the crossover and potential tensions between them.
6
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted in Part
The United States has introduced sophisticated legislation on atrocity prevention, and it recently adopted an (inter-agency) Strategy to Anticipate, Prevent, and Respond to Atrocities. The UK Government should take all opportunities to learn from, and collaborate with, the United States and like-minded partners in the Global Network of R2P Focal …
Government response. The Government is committed to a whole-of-government approach to atrocity prevention, with responsibility falling under the Minister of State for Human Rights within FCDO, but cannot commit to a written strategy at this time.
7
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
Armed conflict and mass atrocities are linked, but overfocusing on conflict is likely to miss atrocity risks, to leave groups unprotected and to ignore how atrocities themselves can drive conflict. In addition to conflict prevention, the Government must explicitly recognise the separate but interlinked priority of atrocity prevention.
Government response. From 2023, the government will expand the existing atrocity prevention section of the annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. The OCSM will complete this section drawing information from a range of other teams within FCDO and other relevant Government departments.
8
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Rejected
The Government must introduce a cross-departmental strategy for preventing and responding to mass atrocities globally, both within and outside of conflicts. It must strive for greater consistency of purpose across Government. The strategy must: a) support development by considering prevention at all stages of the policy cycle, recognising that prevention …
Government response. The government is committed to working in partnership with a diverse range of CSOs and local organizations to understand best practice approaches and specific country contexts, but cannot commit to producing an atrocity prevention strategy at this time.
9
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Deferred
The Government must ensure consistency between a new strategy on atrocity prevention and the ‘strategic conflict framework’ under development. This framework itself must articulate atrocity prevention objectives, as distinct from general conflict prevention objectives.
Government response. The government cannot guarantee additional resources due to fiscal constraints and prioritization of essential overseas aid and support for refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan, pending budget confirmation.
10
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
The Government should ensure that Ministers provide regular and strategic direction to the UK’s atrocity and conflict prevention policy by adding this to the agenda of the Foreign Policy and Security Council and giving the Secretariat responsibility for tracking implementation of the new atrocity prevention strategy (see para 46).
Government response. The government describes the existing Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub, FCDO's International Academy's training, and efforts to strengthen understanding of atrocity prevention.
11
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Deferred
The UK Government must submit an annual report to Parliament on its actions to prevent atrocities. That report should be produced by the new Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (see paras 24, 51), with input from other teams in the FCDO and other relevant departments. (Paragraph 49) From Srebrenica …
Government response. The government plans to carry out a learning needs analysis to understand how the existing training offer could be expanded and targeted to increase impact and ensure staff are upskilled on atrocity prevention work; learning needs assessment will consider how …
12
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted in Part
The new atrocity prevention strategy should be developed in consultation with civil society and relevant experts. (Paragraph 50) Skills and capabilities
Government response. The government will review training modules and assess the need to shift the focus of the atrocity response module towards prevention, and explore how atrocity prevention modules can be added to existing human rights training courses, engaging with stakeholders to …
13
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The Government must empower the new Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (OCSM) in the FCDO by allocating appropriate funds and staff to meet the scale of the UK’s ambitions.
Government response. The OCSM is scoping the needs for additional centralised guidance and will use this analysis to develop and expand existing resources available to Post and in the UK.
14
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
The OCSM must: a) ensure that UK posts and desks for priority countries can access the training and resources that they need, including when factoring relevant thematic objectives into country plans; b) provide the expertise to enable greater awareness of atrocity risks; and c) strengthen co-ordination, the exchange of lessons …
Government response. Staff at Post are already supported by various experts when developing their approach to atrocity prevention, including conflict advisors, governance advisers, and research analysts.
15
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
UK Missions overseas are not getting the support that they need on atrocity prevention. Current training and support appear to attach insufficient weight to prevention, which risks leaving staff without the information that they need to recognise and act on the warning signs of atrocities. Although some Missions acknowledged the …
Government response. The government agrees Heads of Missions play an important role in the UK’s atrocity prevention approach and that this informs how they are prepared for postings and the support available.
16
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The FCDO must mandate short, introductory atrocity prevention training for all Ambassadors/Heads of UK Missions, with a refresher every three years and more in- depth training for at-risk countries. Training should also be mandatory for other key Embassy staff, such as conflict advisers and military attachés, in priority countries. The …
Government response. The OCSM is working to foster learning, build knowledge and share best practice between teams and Embassies and will work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that lessons are captured and shared.
17
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The FCDO should review its existing training and consider whether it provides sufficient support to UK Missions. Such training may require greater preventive focus.
Government response. The OCSM will continue to innovate its analytical capabilities, working with Posts and teams across FCDO and wider HMG who focus on risk, data, and analysis. The OCSM is designing and testing new analytical templates and guidance, including for atrocity …
18
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
The FCDO should introduce a new Atrocity Prevention Toolkit to provide applied, day-to-day guidance to UK Posts and desks on existing support and how to raise the alarm in a crisis.
Government response. The government states that using network analysis to look at actors, contexts, and interrelations is central to their approach and such tools are routinely used to assess corporate structures and financial linkages between individuals and entities.
19
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The OCSM should track training uptake and ensure that Posts in priority countries are accessing enhanced, specialist support, in the form of conflict advisers, dedicated 44 From Srebrenica to a safer tomorrow: Preventing future mass atrocities around the world internal atrocity prevention and human rights advisers or external experts. Data …
Government response. The FCDO continuously assesses its approach and will make necessary improvements to how it monitors and responds to risk, but does not specifically address tracking training uptake or ensuring access to enhanced support in priority countries.
20
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Not Addressed
Although ultimate responsibility must lie with the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Ambassadors and other UK Heads of Mission should have a central role in preventing atrocities in the countries where they work. That role should be explicitly articulated in their job descriptions.
Government response. The government discusses Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the 2022 International Development Strategy, focusing on openness, predictability, the rule of law, and empowering civil society. It does not directly address the role of Ambassadors.
21
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The OCSM should continue to foster learning between Embassies and to provide opportunities for exemplary teams to showcase their approach.
Government response. The government will consider whether it would be appropriate to use another approach for marking atrocity prevention programmes, as the OECD's Development Assistance Committee does not currently have an atrocity prevention marker.
22
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted
The OCSM must continue to develop the analytical capabilities to monitor and identify countries and groups at risk of mass atrocities, working closely with UK Posts and desks. This work should inform the UK’s policy and programming objectives in countries at risk.
Government response. The government discusses the importance of Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS) for the IDS and describes how they use a range of tools to deliver development and foreign policy ambitions and delegates more authority to HoMs on bilateral ODA …
23
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Deferred
The Government should invest in network analysis capabilities within both the OCSM and priority geographic teams to highlight enablers of atrocities, such as financial flows or key information channels. Such capabilities will support effective sanctions designation.
Government response. The government discusses shifting towards a more locally led approach and working with civil society groups to explore how analysis from local organisations can support early warning systems but does not directly address investing in network analysis capabilities within the …
24
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted in Part
In addition to the OCSM’s processes of longer-term monitoring and analysis, the Government should introduce a system for tracking and responding to imminent or escalating mass atrocities. This system for ‘raising the alarm’ should: a) provide UK Missions with a simple tool for reporting and urgent warning to be used …
Government response. The FCDO acknowledges the need for a system for tracking and responding to mass atrocities but states that existing communication, reporting, and decision-making processes are in place and will continue to be assessed and improved.
25
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
UK aid programmes that strengthen institutions and civil society can foster environments where atrocities are less likely, when these programmes are sensitive to atrocity and conflict risks. We are concerned that successive reductions in those programmes may have blunted their effectiveness. The new International Development Strategy fails to reiterate the …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the role of civil society, stating the UK is committed to working in partnership with CSOs and that ODA allocations will be aligned with development priorities.
26
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The Government must increase the share of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spent on development programmes that strengthen inclusive and accountable institutions and that reinforce civil society organisations, consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 16. (Paragraph 89) From Srebrenica to a safer tomorrow: Preventing future mass atrocities around the world 45
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the role of civil society, stating the UK is committed to working in partnership with CSOs and that ODA allocations will be aligned with development priorities.
27
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted in Part
The Government must adopt a marker to tag aid programmes with a substantial atrocity prevention component, which it should use when reporting spending to the International Aid Transparency Index.
Government response. The government will consider whether it would be appropriate to use another approach for marking atrocity prevention programmes, as the OECD's Development Assistance Committee does not currently have an atrocity prevention marker.
28
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Accepted in Part
The Government should reassess whether the new International Development Strategy allows for a sufficient share of ODA to reach communities in fragile and conflict- affected states, as well as other states it assesses as being at risk of mass atrocities. It must also introduce a dedicated budget line for atrocity …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of FCAS in the IDS, stating that the majority of ODA will be allocated to low-income countries, where a higher proportion are FCAS, but avoids committing to specific ODA spend targets in FCAS or states …
29
Conclusion
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
Civil society organisations in the UK and overseas must be empowered to play an active role in preventing atrocities, as they are often the first to be exposed to potential warning signs.
Government response. The FCDO is committed to a more locally led approach, and is already piloting new approaches and will work with civil society groups to explore how analysis from local organizations can support early warning systems.
30
Recommendation
Third Report - From Srebrenica to a saf…
Acknowledged
The Government must simplify funding streams for local civil society organisations and formalise the relationship between these organisations and relevant Government teams, building a more consistent role for these organisations in the Government’s early warning systems. (Paragraph 98) 46 From Srebrenica to a safer tomorrow: Preventing future mass atrocities around …
Government response. The FCDO is committed to a more locally led approach, and is already piloting new approaches and will work with civil society groups to explore how analysis from local organizations can support early warning systems.