Genocide and mass atrocities are rare yet devastating crimes. They are also preventable. Studies of past atrocities show that we can detect early warning signs of atrocities and that if policy makers act on those warnings and develop preventive strategies, we can save lives.

The Early Warning Project uses a wide range of data to identify countries at risk of new mass atrocities. The statistical component of our model focuses solely on cases of state-led violence, meaning a government acting against its own people. The country rankings are not designed to pinpoint threats from one country against another.

The goal of this project is to advance prevention which has been a global challenge since 1945. While our system highlights and analyzes those cases where mass atrocities are currently ongoing in Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, North Korea, Central African Republic, Libya, Nigeria, and Congo, the important gap we seek to fill is to shine a light and spark discussion on those cases where mass atrocities have not started but where risks are detected. We seek to do so by building, running and constantly improving on a first-of-its-kind public early warning system for mass atrocities. This project aims to provide governments, advocacy groups, and at-risk societies with earlier and more reliable warning, and thus more opportunity to take action well before killings occur.