Genocide Intervention Network - History

History

The Genocide Intervention Network was founded in October 2004 in the United States, by then–Swarthmore College students Mark Hanis and Andrew Sniderman, soon joined by Rwandan native Stephanie Nyombayire. As students of international politics and peace and conflict studies, they were convinced that the time had come for a more systematic response to the recurring problem of genocide — a response which could promote and support widespread government and citizen action to protect civilians from violence. GI-NET was formed in order to empower citizens with the tools to advance initiatives able to directly protect civilians from genocidal violence and stop genocide. Although their focus was on direct forms of civilian protection explicitly, they realized the need to educate the public about the numerous possibilities for acting against genocide. In collaboration with other students and alumni of Swarthmore College, GI-NET began developing a website that would eventually host a broad variety of information about the most responsible means of preventing, responding to, and ending genocidal violence along with links to significant organizations whose missions focus on these aspects of genocidal crises.

In November 2004, GI-NET gained the dedicated support of Gayle Smith, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, who traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to initiate conversations with the African Union. Subsequent outreach efforts allowed GI-NET to develop relationships with necessary supporters in the worlds of policy, education, and media.

With widespread support from their advisers, endorsers and a determined volunteer staff of students and alumni of Swarthmore College, the GI-NET was incorporated in February 2005, as the Genocide Intervention Fund, working under the fiscal sponsorship of the Center for American Progress.

By April 2005, GI-NET’s support base had grown substantially. The Genocide Intervention Network was publicly launched on 6 April as over 300 students and professionals from around the country joined in a lobby day that would mark the beginning of GI-NET’s "100 Days of Action Campaign", held in honor of the 100-day Rwandan genocide of 1994.

By the end of the summer GI-NET had raised over $250,000 for its efforts to support civilian protection while increasing their network of supporters, advisers, and concerned citizens.

During reflection and strategy sessions at the end of the summer in 2005, GI-NET chose to more explicitly systematize its efforts to engage and empower citizens. In response to this need GI-NET developed a membership and chapter program that will allows GI-NET to provide increased support for an expanding membership base while enabling members to be in contact for collaborative efforts. It received widespread notice in October after New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof lauded the organization in a column.

GI-NET currently has a permanent staff of five full-time employees,. It has three official "representatives," Stephanie Nyombayire, Ronan Farrow and Bec Hamilton.

It is headquartered in Washington, DC, at 1333 H Street NW.