Populations At Risk

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect applies an atrocity prevention lens to situations where populations are experiencing, or are at risk of, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing. For each population at risk we provide detailed background on the situation, with particular emphasis on broad trends, key events and actors and their connection to the threat; highlight recent developments in the situation that may have increased the risk of mass atrocities or improved the circumstances facing populations; offer analysis of the factors and indicators that have enabled the possible commission of mass atrocity crimes or prevented their resolution; provide an atrocity risk assessment listing five key factors that are contributing to the worsening of the situation or exacerbating risks; and suggest necessary action to prevent or halt the commission of mass atrocity crimes and protect populations.

R2P Monitor

R2P Monitor is a quarterly publication applying the atrocity prevention lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. You can download the latest report or read the updates and analysis on each country below.

Current Crisis

Afghanistan

Populations in Afghanistan are facing systematic human rights violations perpetrated by the Taliban de facto authorities. Other armed extremist groups also continue to pose a threat to civilians.
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Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger)

Recurrent and expanding violence perpetrated by armed Islamist groups, as well as security operations to confront them, threaten populations in the Central Sahel – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – with violations that likely amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
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China

The Chinese government is committing possible crimes against humanity and genocide by systematically persecuting Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim and/or Turkic groups. Other religious and ethnic minority groups also face persecution.
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Democratic People's Republic of Korea

State authorities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continue to commit crimes against humanity.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Various armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo recurrently indiscriminately attack civilian populations and commit violations that may amount to crimes against humanity.
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Ethiopia

Populations across Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara and Oromia regions, continue to be at risk due to clashes between armed groups and government forces, as well as inter-communal violence. Populations in the Tigray region continue to endure war crimes and crimes against humanity despite a peace agreement.
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Haiti

Populations in Haiti are facing possible atrocity crimes due to widespread violence and abuses by armed gangs
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Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Israeli forces have perpetrated likely atrocity crimes in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, including possible war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have also perpetrated likely atrocity crimes.
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Myanmar (Burma)

Populations in Myanmar are facing crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the military and armed groups following the February 2021 coup.
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Nicaragua

As part of a systematic attempt to silence critical voices, the government of Nicaragua is perpetrating widespread violations and abuses that may amount to crimes against humanity.
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Nigeria

Attacks by armed bandit groups, as well as continued violence by Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa, leave civilians in Nigeria at risk of atrocity crimes.
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Sudan

Populations in Sudan are enduring war crimes and crimes against humanity due to an armed confrontation between the Sudanese military and paramilitary forces. Non-Arab communities in Darfur are at risk of genocide as result of ethnically motivated killings.
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Syria

Populations in Syria continue to face war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various state forces and non-state armed groups.
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Ukraine

Russian forces have perpetrated possible war crimes and crimes against humanity since their invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have also committed potential war crimes.
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Venezuela

Ongoing state-led repression in Venezuela may amount to crimes against humanity.
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Imminent Risk

Cameroon

Civilians in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon face atrocity crimes due to widespread violence between government forces and armed separatists. Armed extremist groups also pose an ongoing threat in the Far North region.
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Central African Republic

Populations in the Central African Republic are at risk of possible atrocity crimes due to ongoing violence by armed groups and abuses by government and allied forces.
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South Sudan

Ongoing localized and inter-communal violence, as well as political infighting, pose a pervasive threat to civilians in South Sudan.
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Yemen

Despite a significant decrease in hostilities, populations in Yemen remain at imminent risk of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Eritrea

Civilians in Eritrea continue to face the threat of systematic and widespread violations of human rights that may amount to crimes against humanity. Eritrean armed forces have also been accused of potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in neighboring Ethiopia.
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Previously Studied

Mozambique

During their armed insurgency the extremist group “Al-Shabaab” perpetrated likely atrocity crimes against populations in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique.
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Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenia/Azerbaijan)

The ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijani authorities threatens populations in Nagorno-Karabakh with violations that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Burundi

The government in Burundi must address structural risk factors for mass atrocities, including ending state-led repression, persecution and impunity for past atrocities.
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Central Africa (The Lord's Resistance Army)

For more than three decades, the Lord's Resistance Army has perpetrated mass atrocities against populations in Central Africa.
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Côte d'Ivoire

Increased hate speech and political instability following the October 2020 presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire leaves populations at risk of inter-communal violence and potential atrocities.
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Egypt

Amidst political unrest during 2013 Egyptian security forces perpetrated widespread abuses against civilians that may amount to crimes against humanity. ISIL has also threatened religious minorities throughout Egypt.
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Guinea

Political and ethnic tensions in Guinea have previously left populations at risk of mass atrocity crimes.
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Iraq

Populations in Iraq suffered mass atrocities and violations of international law by various armed forces and non-state armed groups in the context of mass protests during 2019 and a 2014-2017 conflict.
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Kenya

Post-election violence in 2007-2008 left 1,133 Kenyans dead and over 663,000 displaced, but led to state wide structural reforms to avoid a recurrence of violence during future elections.
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Kyrgyzstan

Between 10 June and 14 June 2010 at least 420 people were killed and 400,000 forcibly displaced during violence between ethnic Uzbeks and ethnic Kyrgyz in southern Kyrgyzstan.
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Libya

Civilians in Libya faced war crimes and crimes against humanity as a result of fighting between rival armed groups and competing governmental authorities from 2011-2020.
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Pakistan

Sectarian attacks in Pakistan have periodically left civilians at risk of potential mass atrocity crimes.
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The Philippines

During the Philippine government’s “war on drugs” the national police and armed vigilantes perpetrated extrajudicial killings that may amount to crimes against humanity.
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Somalia

Al-Shabaab and various armed forces have perpetrated attacks against populations in Somalia which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Sri Lanka

A lack of accountability for war crimes and other atrocities committed during Sri Lanka's long civil war continues to hamper reconstruction and reconciliation efforts.
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Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies
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