New York: The Early Warning Project, a joint initiative of the Simon -Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College, has ranked 30 countries with estimated risk of mass killings for 2020-21, where Pakistan ranked as the highest-risk country.
The report said that Pakistan is estimated to have about a one in six chance of experiencing a new mass killing 2020 or 2021.
The Early Warning Project took note of an ongoing mass killing perpetrated by the Taliban Movement of Pakistan and associated militias since 2001. The risk assessment relates to the possibility of a new and distinct non-state-led or state-led episode beginning, not to the ongoing episode continuing or increasing.
We are committed to making Never Again a reality. Our Early Warning Project spotlights countries most at risk of a new episode of mass killing so that governments and organizations can respond and save lives. Here's our latest analysis of countries at risk. #HumanRightsDay
— US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) December 10, 2020
Afghanistan ranks second followed by Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and India.
With reference to India's ranking, the report pointed out that the developments that may be relevant to its risk in 2020-21 include the revocation of special status for Jammu and Kashmir and "accompanying heavy-handed counterinsurgency tactics." It also took note of violence against civilians, proliferation of dangerous speech and rhetoric linked to nationalist and exclusionary ideologies on social media.
"The government has advanced Hindutva ideology through policies often intentionally targeting Muslims and other minorities," it said.
The report is aimed to help identify countries meriting preventive actions for the policy makers. It recommends the policy makers to consider whether they are devoting sufficient attention to addressing the risks of mass atrocities occurring within that country.
Read the full report:
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