This book is devoted to exploring this new approach to an age-old problem.
The essays were written in the wake of the remarkably diverse and original
presentations delivered at the Global Conference on the Prevention of
Genocide held at McGill University in Montreal. This was a unique gathering
devoted to the idea that intelligent foresight and moral commitment to
take timely action has the potential to stop the deluge before millions are
drowned. The Conference brought together hundreds of exceptional participants,
including genocide survivors, Nobel prize laureates, Pulitzer prize
winners, acclaimed scholars and authors, illustrious statesmen and diplomats,
media personalities, and other prominent figures, as well as 36 young
student leaders from 22 different countries around the world. All sessions
of the conference may be viewed at www.efchr.mcgill.ca. The essays in this
book, authored by some of the conference participants, represent a sample
of the rich and extraordinary exchange that took place in an effort to
share this cumulative knowledge and wisdom with an even wider audience.
We wish to acknowledge the Echenberg Family Foundation and its founder
Gordon Echenberg, whose commitment made possible this first in a series
of global conferences on human rights at McGill University. We also wish
to express our gratitude to Nandini Ramanujam, Mary Race, Kirk Shannon
and Nour Dib for their contributions to the preparation of this volume.