The project was funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the period 2017-2022, and had the following sub-projects:
1. A research project on international mechanisms for prevention of genocide and other severe human rights abuses against minorities (including early warning mechanisms)
This project looks at severe human rights abuses against minorities, in particular instances of mass atrocities. It looks at mechanisms for monitoring, warning and prevention. Currently, the project is following the situation in Myanmar particularly close. The study of Myanmar will be part of a comparative study on warnings of mass atrocity crimes (including, but not limited to genocide). Further, a central aim is to collect and develop knowledge about successful cases of conflict solution and de-escalation of violence. By focusing on a broader set of cases than clear-cut genocides, and on mechanisms that aim to monitor and prevent human rights abuses, the project aims to bridge gaps between the genocide studies field and the broader human rights field. Contact person: Ellen Stensrud
2. The Minority Network
This network facilitates dialogue between academic scholars, NGO experts and decision-makers at the national and international level on what a human rights based minority protection implies and how it may be implemented and secured in conflict-ridden societies. Originally developed in 2015 as a dialogue forum for Norwegian researchers and practitioners within the field of minority rights, the Network is now cooperating with international and regional partners in countries in the MENA region (e.g. Iraq, Syria, Lebanon) and South East Asia (e.g. Myanmar, Indonesia). In addition to organizing workshops aiming for dialogue and capacity building, network activities include development of a training manual and online course on minority rights and publication of academic articles. It particularly aims to train younger scholars from the target countries in skills of academic publication.
Contact person: Ingvill Plesner
3. A research project on the impact of minority status for flight and return for Syrian and Iraqi refugees
The main question of this qualitative, interview-based research project is: To what extent and in what way was the minority status, on ethnic and/or religious basis, a reason for flight? And how does it influence considerations of return, e.g. in terms of reflections on political and social conditions for security and inclusion? The empirical focus of this project is refugees currently based in Norway from these countries. It builds on findings from previous research on the experiences and considerations of refugees from Iraq and Syria living in neighboring countries, in particular Lebanon. Contact person: Ingvill Plesner
4. The Global Consortium on Bigotry and Hate
The project has been part of the Global Consortium on Bigotry and Hate, a global consortium that looks at local manifestations of hate in a diverse set of contexts.
International Conferences
The Center's project on minority protection and mass atrocity prevention has organized several international conferences. Scholars and NGO experts have conducted academically informed and politically pertinent discussions on issues related to genocide prevention and minority protection. The conferences build on our research projects as well as the Minority Network activities. We aimed to make the discussions relevant and accessible to scholars, practitioners, policy makers as well as the general public.