An act to help prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes, which threaten national and international security, by enhancing United States Government capacities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such crises
PL 115-441 (S.1158), enacted 01/14/2019

132 STAT. 5586 
PUBLIC LAW 115–441—JAN. 14, 2019 
Public Law 115–441 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To help prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes, which threaten national 
and international security, by enhancing United States Government capacities 
to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such crises. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atroc-
ities Prevention Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government’s 
efforts at atrocity prevention and response through interagency 
coordination, such as the Atrocities Prevention Board (referred to 
in this Act as the ‘‘Board’’) or successor entity are critically impor-
tant, and that appropriate officials of the United States Government 
should— 
(1) meet regularly to monitor developments throughout 
the world that heighten the risk of atrocities; 
(2) identify any gaps in United States foreign policy con-
cerning regions or particular countries related to atrocity 
prevention and response; 
(3) facilitate the development and implementation of poli-
cies to enhance the capacity of the United States to prevent 
and respond to atrocities worldwide; 
(4) provide the President and Congress with recommenda-
tions to improve policies, programs, resources, and tools related 
to atrocity prevention and response; 
(5) conduct outreach, including consultations, not less fre-
quently than biannually, with representatives of nongovern-
mental organizations and civil society dedicated to atrocity 
prevention and response; 
(6) operate with regular consultation and participation of 
designated interagency representatives of relevant Federal 
agencies, executive departments, or offices; and 
(7) ensure resources are made available for the policies, 
programs, and tools related to atrocity prevention and response. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the United States to— 
(1) regard the prevention of atrocities as in its national 
interest; 
(2) work with partners and allies, including to build their 
capacity, and enhance the capacity of the United States, to 
22 USC 2656 
note. 
Elie Wiesel 
Genocide and 
Atrocities 
Prevention Act 
of 2018. 
22 USC 2651 
note. 
Jan. 14, 2019 
[S. 1158] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:16 Jan 18, 2024
Jkt 079194
PO 00000
Frm 01158
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2018\GOVINFO FILES FOR ERIC\PART 4\79194PT4.001
79194PT4
whamilton on LAP1Z6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
132 STAT. 5587 
PUBLIC LAW 115–441—JAN. 14, 2019 
identify, prevent, and respond to the causes of atrocities, 
including insecurity, mass displacement, violent conflict, and 
other conditions that may lead to such atrocities; and 
(3) pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to 
identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by— 
(A) strengthening the diplomatic, risk analysis and 
monitoring, strategic planning, early warning, and response 
capacities of the Government; 
(B) improving the use of foreign assistance to respond 
early, effectively, and urgently in order to address the 
causes of atrocities; 
(C) strengthening diplomatic response and the effective 
use of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional 
justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past 
atrocities; 
(D) supporting and strengthening local civil society, 
including human rights defenders and others working to 
help prevent and respond to atrocities; 
(E) promoting financial transparency and enhancing 
anti-corruption initiatives as part of addressing causes of 
conditions that may lead to atrocities; and 
(F) employing a variety of unilateral, bilateral, and 
multilateral means to prevent and respond to atrocities 
by— 
(i) placing a high priority on timely, preventive 
diplomatic efforts; and 
(ii) exercising leadership in promoting inter-
national efforts to prevent atrocities. 
SEC. 4. TRAINING OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS IN CONFLICT AND 
ATROCITIES PREVENTION. 
Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
4028) is amended in subsection (a)(1)— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) for Foreign Service Officers who will be assigned 
to a country experiencing or at risk of mass atrocities, 
as determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the Director of National Intelligence and relevant 
civil society organizations, instruction on recognizing pat-
terns of escalation and early warning signs of potential 
atrocities, and methods of preventing and responding to 
atrocities, 
including 
conflict 
assessment 
methods, 
peacebuilding, mediation for prevention, early action and 
response, and appropriate transitional justice measures to 
address atrocities.’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the following 
six years, the President shall transmit to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate a report, with a classified 
annex if necessary, that includes— 
President. 
Determination. 
Consultation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:16 Jan 18, 2024
Jkt 079194
PO 00000
Frm 01159
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2018\GOVINFO FILES FOR ERIC\PART 4\79194PT4.001
79194PT4
whamilton on LAP1Z6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
132 STAT. 5588 
PUBLIC LAW 115–441—JAN. 14, 2019 
(1) a review, in consultation with appropriate interagency 
representatives, including the Board, consisting of a detailed 
description of— 
(A) current efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities, 
based on United States and locally identified indicators, 
including an analysis of capacities and constraints for inter-
agency detection, early warning and response, information- 
sharing, contingency planning, and coordination; 
(B) recommendations to further strengthen United 
States capabilities described in subparagraph (A); 
(C) funding expended by relevant Federal departments 
and agencies on atrocities prevention activities, including 
appropriate transitional justice measures and the legal, 
procedural, and resource constraints faced by the Depart-
ment of State and the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development throughout respective budgeting, 
strategic planning, and management cycles regarding sup-
port for atrocity prevention activities; 
(D) a global assessment of ongoing atrocities, including 
the findings of such assessment and, where relevant, the 
efficacy of any steps taken by the Board or relevant Federal 
agency to respond to such atrocities; 
(E) countries and regions at risk of atrocities, including 
a description of specific risk factors, at-risk groups, and 
likely scenarios in which atrocities would occur; and 
(F) the atrocities prevention training for Foreign 
Service officers authorized under subparagraph (D) of sec-
tion 708(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as added 
by section 4; 
(2) recommendations to ensure shared responsibility by— 
(A) enhancing multilateral mechanisms for preventing 
atrocities, including strengthening the role of international 
organizations and international financial institutions in 
conflict prevention, mitigation, and response; and 
(B) strengthening relevant regional organizations; 
(3) the implementation status of the recommendations con-
tained in the previous review required by this section; and 
(4) identification of the Federal agencies and civil society, 
academic, and nongovernmental organizations and institutions 
consulted for preparation of such report. 
(b) CONSIDERATION
OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—The preparation 
of the report required by subsection (a) shall include a consideration 
of analysis, reporting, and policy recommendations to prevent and 
respond to atrocities produced by civil society, academic, and other 
nongovernmental organizations and institutions. 
(c) AVAILABILITY TO CONGRESS.—The report required by sub-
section (a) shall be made available to all members of Congress. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘genocide’’ means an offense under subsection 
(a) of section 1091 of title 18, United States Code; 
(2) the term ‘‘atrocities’’ means war crimes, crimes against 
humanity, and genocide; 
(3) the term ‘‘transitional justice’’ means the range of 
judicial, nonjudicial, formal, informal, retributive, and restora-
tive measures employed by countries transitioning out of armed 
22 USC 2656 
note. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
Assessment. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
Analysis. 
Review. 
Consultation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:16 Jan 18, 2024
Jkt 079194
PO 00000
Frm 01160
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2018\GOVINFO FILES FOR ERIC\PART 4\79194PT4.001
79194PT4
whamilton on LAP1Z6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
132 STAT. 5589 
PUBLIC LAW 115–441—JAN. 14, 2019 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1158 (H.R. 3030): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018): 
Dec. 12, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 21, considered and passed House. 
conflict or repressive regimes to redress legacies of atrocities 
and to promote long-term, sustainable peace; and 
(4) the term ‘‘war crime’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 2441(c) of title 18, United States Code. 
SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the use 
of military force. 
Approved January 14, 2019. 
22 USC 2656 
note. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:16 Jan 18, 2024
Jkt 079194
PO 00000
Frm 01161
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2018\GOVINFO FILES FOR ERIC\PART 4\79194PT4.001
79194PT4
whamilton on LAP1Z6H6L3PROD with STATUTES