June 17, 2009, New York – The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) today launched its first fundraising campaign in its mission to stop genocide before it happens. Donors can visit our Web site to contribute: http://www.auschwitzinstitute.org/donate . The campaign seeks to raise funds to send two officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Auschwitz, Poland, in October for a UN-approved seminar on genocide prevention. The seminar, organized by the AIPR's Raphael Lemkin Center and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, will bring together government officials from nine countries and two NGOs to learn the latest strategies for identifying and preventing genocide and other forms of violent conflict. The Auschwitz Institute's customized week-long seminars feature world-renowned scholars and policy makers who not only analyze genocide from the institutional, political, human rights, legal, military, economic, diplomatic, psychological, public relations, and judicial perspectives, but also foster a community of policy practitioners to support action for dealing with crisis situations when they arise. Genocide is a crime that has claimed more human lives than all the international wars of the 20th century combined. Holding the Lemkin Center training sessions in Auschwitz serves as a reminder to participants of the horrors that have taken place when the international community has failed to rise to the challenge of preventing genocide. The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of genocide and violent conflict. Our mission is to create a community of individuals and institutions who can resist genocide before it occurs. Genocide has never been stopped; but we believe it can be prevented. Founded in 2004, AIPR's programs are presented in partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland. Contact:
- Alex Zucker, Media Relations Officer, 212 794 9760, [pr@auschwitzinstitute.org](mailto:pr@auschwitzinstitute.org)
- Tibi Galis, Managing Director, 212 794 9760, [tibi.galis@auschwitzinstitute.org](mailto:tibi.galis@auschwitzinstitute.org)
- www.auschwitzinstitute.org
