The Program

Columbia’s Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR) has launched a five-year-long advanced education and training program on the prevention of genocide for mid-level government career personnel who have exhibited leadership potential from the 192 UN member states.  The program aims to inspire dedicated government leaders from around the world and equip them with the knowledge and skills to be effective agents for the prevention of genocide.  The first of its kind, the program will bring together diverse young leaders—diplomats, intelligence, military, and human rights officers—for intensive, participatory training through week-long workshops in New York City to be followed by confidential, interactive sessions.  The first gathering is scheduled for January 22-27, 2007.  We expect 12-20 participants in each session and three sessions per year.  Following the intensive workshops, the confidential, interactive sessions will integrate the knowledge and lessons from all the units offered and give alumni access to consultations from our panel of experts. Additionally, it will serve as a platform for information-sharing and alumni collaboration.

Rationale

The program emerges out of a desire to enhance and sustain capacity for genocide prevention within governments—simultaneously the greatest obstacle to, and the greatest hope for, effective prevention.  In addition to advocating enlightened political leadership, genocide prevention capabilities should be strengthened at the working level in governments, where situations that have yet to reach the agenda of political leaders are managed.  One concrete step in this direction is to help mid-level officials understand genocide, its warning signs, and when and how to use available tools for prevention.  This should increase the likelihood that governments will recognize and act on situations with genocidal potential at an early stage, when chances of halting and reversing negative trends are greatest.

Objectives

• To assemble young leaders from an influential and diverse group of countries as a tangible demonstration of governments’ commitment to the prevention of genocide.
• To impart and foster exchange of knowledge about the warning signs of genocide, the possibility of prevention, lessons from history, and how to put prevention into practice.
• To create and support an ever-growing, active network of alumni who will continue to discuss challenges and share lessons related to genocide prevention long after they return home.
• To enhance our collective understanding of genocidal violence and the means to prevent and contain it.

Methodology

The program will be an interactive educational experience involving lectures, seminars, small group work, simulations, and individualized interaction with mentors, scholars, and policy practitioners. An international team of experts on genocide prevention, led by Dr. Andrea Bartoli, will provide instruction and facilitate discussion.  An integral part of the program will be support for an ongoing alumni network on genocide prevention.  To maximize the program’s impact, CICR will provide an Internet portal to facilitate communication and collaboration among alumni (and selected others) and will develop a series of follow-on activities to sustain the relationships built during the training.  CICR is committed to evaluating the program’s effectiveness and will fine-tune the program based on lessons learned.

Costs

Thanks to the generous support of the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund, the Bridgeway Charitable Foundation, and the Ford Foundation, participation in the first session of the training program is free to all invited governments.  CICR is actively soliciting support for subsequent training sessions.

Program Leadership

CICR Founding Director: Andrea Bartoli, 212-854-4449; 917-583-3993 (cell); ab203@columbia.edu.

Program Director: Lawrence Woocher, 212-854-5623; 718-404-6595 (cell); lw2229@columbia.edu.

Project Manager: Carla Hammond, 212-854-5623; (917) 903 5347 (cell); cth2104@columbia.edu.

Sr. Academic Advisor: Henry Huttenbach, City University of New York, huttenbach@aol.com.

Partners: C. Halbmaier, T. Perlmutter, Y. Psimopoulos, A. Taveras, M. Whitlock & S. Zintzmeyer.