Category Archives: Events

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities


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Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 7:00pm Alumni Auditorium University of Ottawa   The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity invites you to a panel discussion to mark the first annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities Special guests:
  • Alex Neve – Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada
  • Kyle Matthews – Lead Researcher, Montreal Institute for Genocide Studies and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University
  • Naomi Kikoler – Senior Advisor and Program Manager, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
On April 23rd, 2010, the Parliament of Canada officially recognized that day as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities. April 23rd was chosen in honour of Lester B. Pearson’s birth date, Canada’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, and recognizes his commitment to peace and international cooperation to end crimes against humanity. This day now serves as a call for Canadians to commemorate those who have suffered in the past and to work towards preventing such atrocities from happening in the future. In the spirit of the day’s mandate, please join us in a panel discussion that will offer an overview of mass atrocities in the world today and the ways in which Canada be part of their solution. For inquiries and RSVP, please contact prev-gen@parl.gc.ca

Public lecture: The Fourth Stage of the Arab-Israel Conflict


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University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs presents a public lecture: The Fourth Stage of the Arab-Israel Conflict, with Dr. Alan Dowty
DATE: 2011.03.21 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm LOCATION/LIEU: Desmarais Building, Room 3120, 55 Laurier avenue East INFORMATION: Email api@uottawa.ca for more information. Registration is not required. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has passed through three major stages since its origins in nineteenth-century Ottoman Turkey: from a collision between two communities in Palestine, to an interstate conflict between Israel and Arab states, to the re-emergence of the Palestinians as the major actor opposite Israel. Since the turn of the 21st century a fourth stage appears to be emerging, rooted in religious militancy, the rise of non-state actors, and changes in the nature of warfare. This development complicates chances of reaching a two-state settlement of the conflict. The talk will analyze the nature and challenges of the “Fourth Stage” and will also address the impact that recent events in the Middle East might have on the Arab-Israeli peace process. Alan Dowty is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, and Senior Associate for Middle East Studies of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, at the University of Notre Dame. In 1963-1975 he was on the faculty of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, during which time he served as Executive Director of the Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations and Chairman of the Department of International Relations. Professor Dowty has published widely on the Arab-Israel conflict, Israeli politics, U.S. foreign policy, weapons of mass destruction, international freedom of movement, and international enforcement. He has published over 130 scholarly and popular articles and reviews, and has delivered over 500 public lectures in 19 countries.

CSDS Speaker Series: The Struggle Against Impunity in Kenya


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Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS) Speaker Series: The Struggle Against Impunity in Kenya: Transitional Justice without the Transition – or the Justice
DATE: 2011.03.10, 12:30pm to 2:00pm LOCATION/LIEU: Senate Room, 608 Robertson Hall, 1125 Colonel By, Carleton University INFORMATION: Email csdsevents@carleton.ca to register by March 7. For more information, call 613.520.2600 ext 6671, or visit http://carleton.ca/csds. In this talk, Stephen Brown will analyze the various accountability mechanisms for the mass atrocities committed in Kenya after the December 2007 elections. These include the International Criminal Court’s ongoing investigations, the proposals for a special national or hybrid tribunal, and the activities of Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. He argues that as long as high-level perpetrators and their allies remain in government, there are few reasons to believe that more than a handful of individuals will be held accountable. Though even a few convictions would be a remarkable break from Kenya’s record of total impunity, it is unrealistic to expect the country’s transitional justice mechanisms to serve as an effective deterrent against future electoral violence. The CSDS Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. A light lunch will be provided. For a map of Carleton, please go to: http://www2.carleton.ca/campus/

Héritiers de la Justice


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The Genocide Prevention Group will hold a small meeting with Maurice Namwira on June 18, 2010 from 9:00am to 10:00am in room 112-N, Center Block. Maurice Namwira is the Executive Secretary of a Congolese organization called Héritiers de la Justice (HJ).  HJ strives to promote and protect human rights in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It was created in 1991 and is mandated to provide training to local leaders, disseminate information about human rights, promote co-existence and intercommunity dialogue, and teach human rights and peacebuilding in local schools. HJ is often the key source of information for Human Rights Watch reports regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the organization has benefited from financial and administrative support from KAIROS Canada. Please confirm your attendance with Mallory at prev-gen@parl.gc.ca before Wednesday June 16, 2010. Thank you!

Round table discussion with Dr. Deng


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Please find the attached notes from the meeting with Dr. Frances Deng on May 4, 2010 The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity (Genocide Prevention Group) is hosting a round table discussion with Dr. Francis Deng, the United Nation’s Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 from 8:30-10:15am in room 505, Victoria Building, at 140 Wellington St., Ottawa. The Special Adviser is mandated by the UN Security Council to act as a catalyst to raise awareness of the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors where there is a risk of genocide and to advocate and mobilize for appropriate action. Dr. Deng will share his insights into the causes and dynamics of genocide, speak about his unique approach to this ever challenging mandate and provide ideas on how Canada can further contribute to preventing this atrocity. The Genocide Prevention Group is an informal group of parliamentarians from all political parties and from both legislative chambers. It is mandated to improve Canada’s efforts to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity, to increase the flow of information available to Parliamentarians on these and related matters, and to communicate and collaborate with like-minded organizations both domestically and internationally. Please confirm your presence with Mallory at prev-gen@parl.gc.ca by Monday, May 3rd, 2010 at noon.
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April 27th Panel discussion: The Evolution of Peacekeeping


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Please find the attached notes from this event The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity will be hosting a panel discussion, entitled “The Evolution of Peacekeeping: renewing Canada’s leadership for the 21st century.” The event will be on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 8:30-10:00am in room 208, West Block. Panelists include: Carolyn McAskie, the United Nation’s Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding and former Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Operation in Burundi; Michael C. Pryce, Founder and President of COA Consultants and COA Non-Profit and Former Director of the Mass Atrocity Response Operations Project; and Sophie Toupin, Gender Advisor for the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. Both parliamentarians and their offices are invited to attend the discussion. Light refreshments will be served. Please confirm your attendance with Mallory at prev-gen@parl.gc.ca. See you there, Paul Dewar Member of Parliament Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity

Panel Discussion with Eve Ensler


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Ms. Eve Ensler met with the members of the Genocide Prevention Group regarding the use of sexual violence in war and Canadian foreign policy. Ms. Ensler is a playwright, performer and activist and she is the award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues, which has been published in 45 languages and performed in over 120 countries. Ms. Ensler has created a “City of Joy” for survivors of sexual violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. She shared her unique insight and policy recommendations with the members of the Genocide Prevention Group.

Field Trip to the DRC with PNoWB


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The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) invited the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity (the Group) to represent Canada in their upcoming field visit program to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The delegation was headed by a parliamentarian from Cameroon and consisted of six parliamentarians from developing countries and six parliamentarians from donor countries. This program allowed Mr. Paul Dewar to make political assessments about how development aid can be used as strategy for conflict prevention and post-conflict reconciliation. Supported by a grant from the government of Finland, the delegation met with representatives and parliamentarians of the Government of the Congo, experts in the field of natural resources and conflict, and experts on post-conflict development and reconciliation. The delegation also visited a World Bank development project in Inga: a hydro-electric dam located about 360km away from Kinshasa. The Chair of the Group took a critical eye to these projects and Canada’s existing bilateral aid policies.

“National and International Judicial Responses to the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide – Fifteen Years Later”


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The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada and HUMURA (a survivor’s network in Ottawa) invited the Chair, Mr. Paul Dewar to speak at a memorial of the fifteen anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. Mr. Dewar reflected on the tragedy of Rwanda and the lack of political will to intervene. He affirmed the importance of strengthening institutions to properly reflect current humanitarian situations, and the need to cooperate to prevent genocide, genocide denial and address the legal challenges of prosecuting genocide perpetrators.