August 10, 2009, New York – The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) today signed an agreement with the German government allocating German funds to pay for two officials from developing countries to take part in one of the AIPR's 2009 Raphael Lemkin Seminars for the Prevention of Genocide. Managing Director Tibi Galis signed the agreement for the AIPR, while Dr. Stephan Grabherr, deputy consul general of Germany in New York, signed on behalf of the German government. The seminars, approved by the UN special adviser on genocide prevention, bring together government officials from nine countries and members of two NGOs to learn the latest strategies for identifying and preventing genocide and other forms of violent conflict. Organized by the AIPR in partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, the 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 as 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. 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
