BUDAPEST CENTRE
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE AND MASS ATROCITIES
Budapest: Cooperation of Visegrad Countries in Preventing Mass Atrocities
An event organized by the Budapest Centre in cooperation with the Universit of Gdansk, Transitions (TOL) and the Milan Simeka Foundation with the support of the Visegrad International Fund and the Central European University
November 6, 2013 9:00 am - 15:30 pm
Central European University | Budapest
Popper Room
Background
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The European Parliament adopted a recommendation on the UN principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (‘R2P’) on 18 April 2013 where it urges the Council to arrive at common understanding on the implications of R2P for the EU's external action and the role its actions and instruments can play in situations of concern.
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The UN General Assembly arranged a debate on the Report of the Secretary General on the Responsibility to Protect at its meeting on 11 September 2013.
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The Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities released a Report prepared by a Task Force on the EU capabilities to prevent mass atrocities in March 2013 and launched a dialogue process in Europe to discuss the challenges and tasks in that regard.
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The reconciliation and peace process after the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 calls for increased efforts to promote the reconciliation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The European Union makes efforts to support the peace and stabilization processes in the Balkans including Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The above-mentioned processes call for developing the cooperation of the Visegrad Group countries in the field of R2P.
The Roundtable will provide a framework for governmental officials responsible for human rights and the Responsibility to Protect, researchers and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the cause of mass atrocities prevention to discuss the contribution of the Visegrad Group countries to the on-going international efforts and identify the possibilities of building up relevant national and regional capabilities.
The geographical and temporal proximity of genocide in Srebrenica is a particular challenge for the Visegrad Group countries that should better facilitate the reconciliation and peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Round table will consist of two panels:
a. Exchange of views on promoting international efforts related to Mass Atrocities Prevention/R2P including the capacity building in EU institutions and Visegrad Group countries;
b. Promotion of the reconciliation/relaxation processes by the Visegrad Group countries in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the aftermath of the genocide in Srebrenica.