U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Susan E. Rice today announced that President Barack Obama has directed a thorough review to strengthen the U.S. national capacity to prevent mass atrocities.
Atrocities Prevention Board
“Crucially, the President will establish a new Atrocities Prevention Board with the authority and the policy tools to respond quickly to early warning signs and make recommendations before options narrow and the costs of both action and inaction rise precipitously.” – Ms. Rice
She highlighted that the President Obama also expanded grounds to deny visas to serious human rights violators and war criminals and to isolate those who engage in or conspire to commit atrocities.
Ms. Rice emphasized that the United States is deeply committed to ensuring that no individual, now or in the future, sees a path to power in division and death.
“Moreover, in the enduring fight against mass atrocities, the United States will continue to enlist the contributions of all nations who know that in war, there must be rules; that, in the pursuit of power, there must be limits; that, even in a violent world, there must be rights; and that, when the embers of conflict threaten to ignite, we must be ready.” – Ms. Rice
