Following the African Task Force on the Prevention of Mass Atrocities initiative launched by the Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities in Addis Ababa on 18 March, 2015 to map the capabilities of five regional organizations in Africa (AU, ECOWAS, ICGLR, IGAD and SADC) and the firm support expressed by the concerned organizations for the mission of the project, there took place a workshop organized by the Budapest Centre and the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on 4 September, 2015.
In the welcome address delivered by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman stressed the significance of mass atrocities prevention in promoting human rights and stability in West Africa.
She also confirmed the readiness of the Commission to collaborate with the African Task Force established by the Budapest Centre for assessing the capabilities of ECOWAS Commission in this field.
During the event, the representatives of the African Task Force and the Budapest Centre shared the findings of the research with the key departments of the ECOWAS Commission.
The participants of the event conducted a constructive discussion on the findings and agreed to enhance the cooperation between ECOWAS and the Budapest Centre in completing the research.
Dr Gyorgy Tatar
Chair, Budapest Centre for the International
Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
Ms Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security
Economic Community of West African States