2025 Preventing Mass Atrocities Targeting Religious Communities

Mass atrocities remain among the gravest threats to global stability, often targeting communities for their religious identity. This USCIRF policy update highlights how violations of religious freedom serve as early warning signs for genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities. It underscores the U.S. government’s legislative and policy tools, including the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, designed to detect and prevent such crimes. The report calls for stronger integration of religious freedom promotion into U.S. atrocity prevention strategies to mitigate risks before violence escalates.