Third Report - From Srebrenica to a safer tomorrow: Preventing future mass atrocities around the world

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.

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.

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 prevention. They are working with open-source and data specialists to develop tools and resources for remote risk monitoring.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 appropriate and will continue to use its influence to advocate for strengthened mechanisms.

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 is a global leader on action to tackle Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), committing £50 million since the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) in 2012.

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 a range of workstreams, and they will continue to bolster monitoring capabilities and work with partners.

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.

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.

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.

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.