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Atrocity Prevention Act
12/15/2023, 4:01 PM
Summary of Bill HR 4871
The Atrocity Prevention Act would establish a new Atrocities Prevention Board within the US government, which would be responsible for coordinating efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities. This board would be made up of representatives from various government agencies, including the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the United States Agency for International Development.
The bill also calls for the creation of a new Atrocities Prevention Fund, which would provide funding for programs and initiatives aimed at preventing atrocities. This fund would support efforts to strengthen early warning systems, promote conflict prevention, and support peacebuilding efforts in regions at risk of atrocities. Additionally, the Atrocity Prevention Act would require the US government to develop a comprehensive strategy for preventing and responding to atrocities, and to report regularly to Congress on its progress in implementing this strategy. Overall, the Atrocity Prevention Act aims to ensure that the US government is better equipped to prevent and respond to acts of genocide and other atrocities around the world. By establishing a new Atrocities Prevention Board, creating an Atrocities Prevention Fund, and developing a comprehensive strategy for addressing these issues, this bill seeks to make a meaningful impact in the fight against atrocities.
Congressional Summary of HR 4871
Atrocity Prevention Act
This bill establishes annual reporting requirements for the Department of State regarding countries and regions at risk of atrocities (such as genocide). The bill also makes permanent a requirement, currently set to expire in 2025, for the State Department to report annually to Congress on U.S. efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities.
Under this bill, the State Department must annually (1) rank countries and regions at risk of atrocities as high, medium, or low risk, and (2) assess the risks related to providing security assistance and cooperation to medium- and high-risk countries.
For each country identified as high- or medium-risk, the State Department must determine whether the United States should continue to provide security assistance and cooperation. For each country newly identified as high- or medium-risk, the State Department must address whether U.S. security assistance and cooperation may be used to perpetrate atrocities or exacerbate risk factors for the commission of atrocities. For each country that was already identified as high- or medium-risk in the previous report, the State Department must assess any relevant changes in the country since the last report.
Finally, the bill requires that the report be submitted in unclassified form. The report may include a classified annex.
