Last Friday, the House of Representatives gave
final passage to S.1158,
Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (
full text). Section 3 of the Act provides:
It shall be the policy of the United States to—
(1) regard the prevention of atrocities as in its national interest;
(2) work with partners and allies, including to build their capacity, and enhance the capacity of the United States, to identify, prevent, and respond to the causes of atrocities, including insecurity, mass displacement, violent conflict, and other conditions that may lead to such atrocities; and
(3) pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by—
(A) strengthening the diplomatic, risk analysis and monitoring, strategic planning, early warning, and response capacities of the Government;
(B) improving the use of foreign assistance to respond early, effectively, and urgently in order to address the causes of atrocities;
(C) strengthening diplomatic response and the effective use of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past atrocities;
(D) supporting and strengthening local civil society, including human rights defenders and others working to help prevent and respond to atrocities;
(E) promoting financial transparency and enhancing anti-corruption initiatives as part of addressing causes of conditions that may lead to atrocities; and
(F) employing a variety of unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral means to prevent and respond to atrocities by—
(i) placing a high priority on timely, preventive diplomatic efforts; and
(ii) exercising leadership in promoting international efforts to prevent atrocities.
The bill will now be forwarded to the President for his signature.
