The United Nations’ newly appointed Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has issued a stark warning that the world is edging into an era of heightened atrocity risks, driven by intensifying conflicts, deliberate attacks on civilians, and a growing disregard for international humanitarian law.
In her early briefing, the adviser noted that conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe are showing “clear and accelerating indicators” of potential mass-atrocity conditions. These include systematic targeting of ethnic or religious groups, large-scale displacement, manipulation of hate speech, and state or non-state actors acting with near-total impunity.
She stressed that the international community is failing to respond decisively to early-warning signs. “We are seeing the normalization of behaviour that would have once triggered urgent global action,” she cautioned, highlighting concerns that current geopolitical divides are weakening collective prevention mechanisms.
The adviser emphasized that African regions facing complex security dynamics, including the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and eastern DRC, require greater international support, stronger state accountability, and sustained investment in early-warning systems. She underscored that atrocity prevention is not limited to military interventions but includes strengthening democratic institutions, countering hate speech, promoting inclusive governance, and protecting civilians in conflict zones.
The UN called on member states to reaffirm their commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, warning that failure to act now could allow isolated atrocities to escalate into broader regional crises.
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