Genocide Awareness and Prevention Toolkit

Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month is held each April to honor the victims of genocide. This toolkit has background information, case studies, documentaries and video testimonies of survivors, and other resources to help students and teachers learn about genocide and what can be done to stop it from happening again.

Genocide: Any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group:

  1. killing members of the group;
  2. causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
  3. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
  4. imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
  5. forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Background Information

Case Study Examples of Major 20th and 21st Century Genocides

General Resources and Lesson Plans

Videos and Multimedia

The 10 Stages of Genocide (Pyramid of Hate)
In this video, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust explains the ten stages of genocide, as developed by Gregory H Stanton, President of Genocide Watch.
Genocide Film List

Click here for the full Genocide Film List!

Documentary: The Last Survivor (22:39)
(Click to watch, 22:39)

View the Website & Trailer
View the Study Guide
Synopsis:Following the lives of survivors of four different genocides and mass atrocities – The Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur, and Congo – The Last Survivor presents a unique opportunity to learn from the lessons and mistakes of our past in order to have a lasting social impact on how we act collectively in the face of similar issues today.

Video: Stories of Surviving Genocide (5:10)
(Click to watch, 5:10)

Synopsis:Four Chicago-area residents who have survived genocide in different parts of the world are subjects of the exhibit “Stories of Survival: Object. Image. Memory” at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie.

Documentary: Worse Than War (1:54:00)
(Click to watch, 1:54:00)

Synopsis:This PBS documentary follows Harvard University professor,Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, as he speaks with victims, perpetrators, witnesses, politicians, diplomats, historians, humanitarian aid workers, and journalists, all with the purpose of explaining and understanding the critical features of genocide and how to finally stop it.

Video: Elie Wiesel Dies at 87
(Click to watch, 2:27)

Synopsis:Elie, Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and human rights activists, passed away at 87 on July 3, 2016. Wiesel, through his books and lectures, bore witness for the millions of Holocaust victims, dedicating his life to the acknowledgement and prevention of genocide. His words serve as a reminder of everyone’s responsibility to protect human rights and dignity.

I believe firmly and profoundly that anyone who listens to a witness, becomes a witness. So, those who hear us, those who read us, and those who learn something from us, they will continue to bear witness for us. -Elie Wiesel

Past STF Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month Activities:

  • Genocide Awareness Surveys
  • Yellow ribbons – Talk to your STF intern about purchasing
  • Screen “The Last Survivor” in classrooms/assembly/activities period/etc. (See above for additional resources. Talk to your STF intern for a list of additional films.)
  • Use above genocide case studies to do classroom presentations/assembly/activities period/etc.
  • Die-in
  • Genocide Memorial Service
  • Table at lunch
  • PA/all-school announcements (including Monday Morning Meetings, Town Hall, etc.)
  • Guest speakers – Talk to your STF intern for suggestions.
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