Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities

 
 

Dina Bailey, Director of U.S. Programs

The U.S. Programs department of Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities (AIPG), supports domestic atrocity prevention through innovative education, training, and technical assistance initiatives tailored to the unique structural and historical contexts of the United States. Guided by the belief that atrocity prevention must be rooted in collaborative, multi-sectoral, and community-informed action, the U.S. Programs department focuses on strengthening the civil and human rights landscape by working directly with governmental and civic stakeholders to build capacity, address legacies of violence, and foster resilience.

Strategic Approach

The U.S. Programs department works at the intersection of transitional justice, civil and human rights, and memorialization. The department’s overarching goal is to reduce identity-based violence and strengthen prevention systems within local and state institutions. U.S. Programs staff design and implement multi-day seminars, workshops, and consulting engagements with local governments, law enforcement agencies, museums, and civil society partners. These engagements emphasize the importance of place-based memory, historical accountability, and intergenerational justice, helping participants draw connections between the past and present to inform long-term change.

Key program areas include:

  • The U.S. Raphael Lemkin Seminar for the Prevention of Identity-Based Violence

  • Transitional Justice and Reparations Initiatives

  • Memorialization and Museum Partnerships

  • Technical Assistance and Strategic Advising

Flagship Program: U.S. Raphael Lemkin Seminar for the Prevention of Identity-based Violence

Inspired by AIPG’s international Raphael Lemkin Seminar, the U.S. version is a domestic, place-based program designed to build the capacity of local and state-level actors to address structural inequalities and prevent identity-based violence. The seminar convenes public officials to explore historical harms and design policy and programmatic interventions. It includes immersive site visits—such as to the Whitney Plantation—and ongoing alumni engagement through technical support and quarterly convenings. Alumni have gone on to influence institutional policy, engage law enforcement, and catalyze community-based training initiatives.

Transitional Justice Initiatives: Identity-based Histories & Programming

The U.S. Programs team actively supports transitional justice initiatives that address both historical and ongoing harm. Drawing from international case studies, the team provides U.S. policymakers and grassroots organizations with best practices for designing and implementing reparative policies that are both effective and sustainable. AIPG engages in long-term efforts to challenge the erasure of identity-based histories and uplift context-specific solutions through curriculum development and educational programming for U.S. government employees.

Community Engagement and Memorialization

The U.S. Programs department leverages memory work as a tool for atrocity prevention. AIPG staff facilitate community conversations designed to promote dialogue, healing, and civic engagement. AIPG also organizes cross-sector convenings focused on violence prevention through sites of memory and facilitated museum-based programs.

Training and Technical Assistance

The U.S. Programs department provides tailored trainings to local governments and agencies seeking to integrate identity-based violence prevention into their internal practices. These trainings combine historical analysis, policy frameworks, and community-based strategies to equip participants with the tools to recognize early warning signs, address systemic inequities, and implement preventative approaches grounded in justice and accountability. Whether delivered virtually or in-person, each session is customized to reflect local contexts and institutional needs, fostering long-term impact through practical skills, reflective dialogue, and ongoing support.

National and Global Partnerships

The U.S. Programs department maintains strategic relationships with institutions such as the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Criminal Justice, the Aspen Institute, and UNESCO. Through national and global partnerships, AIPG staff are able to further connect U.S. stakeholders with international networks and transitional justice practitioners. This global-local exchange enriches domestic prevention strategies and affirms the interconnectedness of justice work. 

In sum, the U.S. Programs department exemplifies AIPG’s commitment to preventive action rooted in historical understanding, civic accountability, and systemic change. Its diverse portfolio of programming, anchored in evidence-based practice and ethical engagement, positions it as a critical force for advancing justice and human rights within the U.S. context.