Submission to Congress of the 2023 Elie Wiesel Act Report

Today, the Department of State submitted the latest annual report to Congress consistent with section 5 of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act.  The 2023 Elie Wiesel Act Report details U.S. interagency efforts to address genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity around the world.  It also chronicles whole-of-government work over the past year to promote atrocity prevention programs, protect civilians at risk of atrocities, and help hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable in places where some of the most heinous crimes have been committed ­­– and unfortunately continue.

This year’s Elie Wiesel Act Report reflects several Administration priorities.  The report notes new U.S. atrocity prevention efforts, including through the application of the U.S. Atrocity Risk Assessment Framework and continued coordination with likeminded partners and civil society.  As part of ongoing work to incorporate gender into atrocity prevention efforts, the report focuses on the role of gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, as a potential early warning sign for atrocities.  The report also highlights the critical documentation work of the Conflict Observatory program for Ukraine, which has recently expanded to help address human rights violations and abuses in Sudan and aid humanitarian access there.

The report illustrates the efforts of the Atrocity Prevention Task Force as the U.S. government implements the U.S. Strategy to Anticipate, Prevent, and Respond to Atrocities.  The United States is committed to promoting respect for human rights globally and pursuing accountability for those responsible for atrocities.  Preventing atrocities, wherever and whenever possible, remains a core U.S. national security interest.