Major International Initiative on Addressing UK Atrocity Prevention and Response Launched
On 14 July 2025, in response to the alarming global surge in atrocity crimes and the growing threats to the international rule of law, a new independent initiative, the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes, has been launched in the Houses of Parliament.
The initiative comprises a group of leading international lawyers, cross-party parliamentarians and policy advisers. The Standing Group’s avowed aim is to make timely, impactful, and expert recommendations to government officials, policymakers, and civil society to help bring the UK Government closer to creating a comprehensive framework to prevent and respond to international crimes (in line with its existing international obligations).
The Standing Group launches at a time of extraordinary global volatility. The number of active armed conflicts is at its highest since 1946, and there is a resurgence of atrocity crimes both between and within States, including in situations where there is no armed conflict. Between 2000 and 2020, almost one-fifth of countries experienced mass atrocities or had serious concerns raised that they could take place.
The formation of the Standing Group, as an independent initiative, represents a coordinated effort to fill the gap in the UK’s existing policy architecture for atrocity prevention. The Group will convene an independent review of, and provide advice on, the UK’s approach to preventing and responding to international atrocity crimes, to aid the development of a comprehensive and cohesive framework for addressing these issues.
Baroness Kennedy, Chair of the Executive Committee, stated that: “The international nature of the Standing Group’s make-up - comprising leading global voices on international law - reinforces the importance and significance of an international and joined-up approach to atrocity prediction, prevention and response.” Aarif Abraham, Co-Convener of the Committee, added that “If we are to maintain any semblance of integrity in the international justice system, we must not only reaffirm the consistent application of international norms at home and abroad but practically reinforce and reaffirm adherence to it."
In response to the launch, Committee Member, Oleksandra Matviichuk (Nobel Peace Laureate), emphasised the importance of a survivor-centred approach: “We must ensure justice for all people, regardless of their social position, the type of crime they have endured, and whether international organisations or media are interested in their case. The life of each person matters.” And, Lord Alfred Dubs, an Advisory Board member, provided a timely caution: “The horrific crimes of the Second World War led us to the development of international criminal law and humanitarian law so that those atrocities would not be repeated. We have repeatedly failed in the promise of ’never again’ and so we must now ensure that international criminal and humanitarian law is robustly enforced before we reach the point of no return.”
Baroness Kennedy acts as the Chair of the Executive Committee. Wayne Jordash KC is a Committee Member. Aarif Abraham acts as Convener and Committee Member (together with Dr Ewelina Ochab, from the Coalition for Genocide Response).
For more information about Baroness Kennedy, Wayne, or Aarif, contact our International Team Practice Manager, Naomi Smith.
Read more coverage by The Guardian.
NOTES TO EDITORS
You can learn more about the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes in this briefing note here, or on their website here: https://www.atrocitystandinggroup.org/
Secretariat of the Standing Group: Accountability Unit; International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI); Coalition for Genocide Response
Executive Committee Members, as of 14 July 2025, included:
Prof. Payam Akhavan, Prof. Christine Chinkin, Dr. Federica D’Alessandra, Dr. Fernand De Varennes, Alistair Fernie, Andrew Gilmour CMG, Wayne Jordash KC, Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC (Chair), Oleksandra Matviichuk, Jason McCue, Rupert Skilbeck, Dr. Ewelina Ochab (Convener), and Aarif Abraham (Convener)
Advisory Board Members, as of 14 July 2025, included:
Lord David Alton KCSG, Lord Alfred Dubs, Richard Foord MP, Baroness Arminka Helić, Baroness Fiona Hodgson CBE, Blair McDougall MP, Brendan O’Hara MP, Baroness Liz Sugg CBE, David Taylor MP, Melanie Ward MP, Luke de Pulford, and James Jennion.
