ABSTRACT
Genocide is considered by governments, the media and civil society to be the ultimate international crime, carrying with it an ethical judgement and an obligation to intervene. As a consequence, during the past 20 years, the legal interpretation of the Genocide Convention and the methodology and institutions focusing on genocide prevention have developed significantly. Research on the motivation of individual perpetrators and participants in genocide provide detailed accounts and analyses that allow deducing potential entry points and measures for prevention at the local level. Some practical field guides on the prevention of mass atrocities have been published recently as a result of the efforts to implement the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). However, most of the proposals remain at the level of objectives versus a focus on process. The creation of representative community committees in the locations at risk could respond to the need of collecting data and information on a regular basis.
