The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today welcomed the White House announcement of the new Executive Order “A Comprehensive Approach to Atrocity Prevention and Response” aimed at further institutionalizing US efforts in this area and affirming atrocities prevention as a core moral and national security priority of the United States. The commitment to prioritizing and institutionalizing atrocities prevention across the entire US government is an effort future administrations should sustain.

“This Executive Order comes at a time when millions of civilians are under siege by repressive regimes and extremist groups around the world and where the post-war norms and architecture established to prevent and respond to these crimes are under threat,” said Cameron Hudson, Director of the Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide.  “This White House action acknowledges the severity of these challenges and takes proactive steps to ensure that this and future Administrations have the tools, training, and resources necessary to act.”

This executive order is in keeping with the recommendations in the Genocide Prevention Task Force, co-sponsored by the Museum and co-chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, which urged the US government to increase its capacity to undertake early warning and early response to prevent mass atrocities. In particular, provisions in the Executive Order to prioritize intelligence collection of at-risk countries and populations; to develop specific government training programs in the early warning indicators of atrocities; and to dedicate greater resources to prevention programs all draw on Task Force recommendations and remain essential elements to realizing these commitments well into the future.

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.