Gross human rights violations often serve as early warning signs of situations that may escalate into atrocity crimes. Yet, not all human rights crises indicate such an imminent risk, nor do all of them necessarily result in the commission of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing.

On 21 June the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect hosted an interactive conversation with four leading human rights and mass atrocity experts to examine how and why some human rights crises escalate, why some identity-based conflicts reach a critical tipping point, and what lessons can be learned about how to protect human rights and prevent atrocities.

Panelists:

• • • Andrew Gilmour: Former Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the OHCHR in New York
    • Rita Izsák-Ndiaye: Rapporteur of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
    • Yasmin Sooka: Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan
    • Castro Wesamba: Chief of Office of the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect