Genocide Watch is an organization founded in 1999 that attempts to predict and prevent genocide around the world. 1 It employs its “Ten Stages of Genocide” metric to assess the threat of genocide in a particular country or region. 2
It tracks the global development of several left-of-center social issues including homophobia, hate speech and incitement, anti-Muslim sentiment, racism, and hate crimes. 3 Genocide Watch has argued that both Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack against Israel and aspects of Israel’s military response have been genocidal. 4
Initiatives
Genocide Watch seeks to educate the world on the problem of genocide, predict budding genocidal movements, prevent future genocides, intervene where genocide exists, and bring those who commit genocide to justice. 1
Genocide Watch publishes reports related to the genocide risk in particular countries and regions in the world. 5 It also maintains a blog that publishes journal articles and opinion pieces reporting on developments in ongoing and potential genocides. 6
Genocide Watch assesses genocide threats according to its “Ten Stages of Genocide,” which are based on a historical analysis of the Jewish Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and the Cambodian Genocide. 2
Genocide Watch also manages the Alliance Against Genocide, a global coalition of over 100 organizations. The Alliance Against Genocide was founded by Genocide Watch president and founder Gregory Stanton. 7
Notable Reports
United States of America Report
Genocide Watch published a report advancing a left-of-center perspective on racial tension in America, stating that since its foundation the United States has subjected both Native Americans and African Americans to genocide, as well as other racial and sexual minority groups. The report states that America is in denial over these genocides, which is itself, the tenth step in genocide. Genocide Watch recommends affirmative action for African Americans and Native Americans, government acknowledgement of its violation of Native American treaties, left-of-center K-12 educational changes on topics of race and sex, and the removal of allegedly racist police officers. 8
Russia-Ukraine Genocide Report
Genocide Watch concluded in its report that Russia’s prosecution of the Ukraine War is genocidal due to President Vladimir Putin’s policy of “Urbicide,” which seeks to destroy cities and remove Ukrainians from their land. The report calls for the international community to sanction Russia, provide financial support and military munitions to Ukraine, and force an end to the conflict. 9
Israel-Gaza Report
As of July 2024, the Genocide Watch report on Israel and Gaza had not been updated since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. 10 However, Genocide Watch published an article in February 2024 arguing that Hamas’ initial attack and aspects of Israel’s military response had been genocidal. Genocide Watch focuses on the allegedly genocidal nature of Israel’s response, stating that Israel has committed “multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity,” particularly by shutting off electricity and supplies to Gaza. Genocide Watch urges a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, Arab and Palestinian recognition of the State of Israel, and the lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. 4
Leadership
Gregory Stanton is the founder, president, and a board member of Genocide Watch. He holds degrees from Oberlin College, Harvard Divinity School, Yale Law School, and a doctorate in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago. 11
Stanton is also the founder and chair of the world’s first anti-genocide coalition, the Alliance Against Genocide. He was a research professor in genocide studies and prevention at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University from 2010-2019. 11
From 1992 through 1999, Stanton was in the United States Department of State, where he drafted the United Nations Security Council resolutions that created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Burundi Commission of Inquiry, and the Central African Arms Flow Commission. After leaving the State Department, Stanton helped create the Khmer Rouge Tribunal and draft its court procedures. 11
Finances
Genocide Watch files through the federal “e-postcard” tax return because it brings in less than $50,000 annually. 12 Its last full tax filing from 2011 listed $11,672.26 in total revenue, $11,604.06 in total expenses, and $4,006.95 in net assets. 13
References
- Our Mission. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/copy-of-about-us
- Stanton, Gregory H. “The Ten Stages of Genocide.” 1996. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/tenstages
- Resources. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/resources
- Condon, Grace and Condon, Frankie. “Genocide is Never Justifiable: Israel and Hamas in Gaza.” Genocide Watch. February 4, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/genocide-is-never-justifiable-israel-and-hamas-in-gaza
- Country Reports by Region. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/copy-of-country-reports-by-region
- Latest News. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/latest-news
- Who We Are. Alliance Against Genocide. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.against-genocide.org/who-we-are
- Country Report: The United States of America, The Continuing Oppression of Native Americans and Black Americans. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/_files/ugd/df1038_437b599e1fee498f89277dbe10477378.pdf
- Genocide Emergency: Russian Aggression and Genocide in Ukraine August 2022. Genocide Watch. August 2022. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/_files/ugd/b3be20_f94d49b6bf324793b8a63d4d67bdfb78.pdf
- Israel and Palestine Report May 2023. Genocide Watch. May 2023. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/_files/ugd/707f77_6d6f933e489e4e488d19961 dbc5d95ab.pdf
- Gregory Stanton. Genocide Watch. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.genocidewatch.com/copy-of-about-the-president
- Genocide Watch Inc. Charity Navigator. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/261672589
- Genocide Watch Inc. – 2011 990. ProPublica. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/261672589/2012_11_EO%2F26-1672589_990_201206