About Us

World Without Genocide advocates for state, national, and international efforts to

  • Protect innocent people from discrimination, violence, and hate;
  • Prevent genocides and other mass atrocities;
  • Prosecute perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; and
  • Remember those whose lives and communities have been affected by violence.

 

We work in legislatures and courts to promote social justice.

  • 2025: Shadow Report, United Nations Human Rights Council, U.S. Universal Periodic Review
  • 2025: Passage, Minnesota Legislature, resolution designating April as Ecocide Awareness and Prevention Month
  • 2023: Signatory, amicus curiae brief, Illinois Supreme Court, Rowe et al. v Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul et al., elimination of monetary bail and Pretrial Fairness Act
  • 2022: Statement, International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor, defining gender persecution under crimes against humanity
  • 2021: Amicus curiae brief, Minnesota Supreme Court, Schroeder et al. v Minnesota, felon re-enfranchisement
  • 2020: Passage, Minnesota Legislature, ban on child marriage
  • 2020: Amicus curiae brief, Minnesota Court of Appeals, N.H. and Rebecca Lucero v Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11, youth transgender rights
  • 2016: Passage, Minnesota Senate, conflict minerals bill
  • 2014: With support from World Without Genocide, the New Hampshire legislature designated April as Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month
  • 2013: Passage, Minnesota Legislature, designation of April as Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month
  • 2008: Passage, Minnesota Legislature, Sudan divestment bill
  • 2006-2025: Passage, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in 9 cities and at the Minnesota State Bar Association and Minnesota Nurses Association

 

We hold Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and affiliative status with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. World Without Genocide leaders attend international meetings, submit reports, and advocate for an end to genocide and other mass atrocities through the just rule of law.

 

The aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guide our advocacy.

  • Protecting human rights of persecuted groups: ethnic, national, racial, and religious minorities; women and girls; and gender-expansive people.
  • Mitigating the climate crisis, a ‘force multiplier’ of violence.
  • Eliminating identity-based hate: xenophobia, racism, antisemitism, and more.
  • Supporting the International Criminal Court and other international, regional, and domestic mechanisms and tribunals.

 

Awards and Honors for World Without Genocide

  • 2022: Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
  • 2014: Minnesota Ethical Leadership Award
  • 2012: Winner, Minnesota Idea Open for Tents of Witness: Genocide and Conflict
  • 2012: Finalist, Anti-Racism Mission Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
  • 2012: Certificate of Recognition from the Office of the Governor, State of Minnesota
  • 2011: Presidents’ Community Organization Award from William Mitchell College of Law
  • 2010: Regional Emmy award nomination for Children of Genocide: Five Who Survived, documentary co-produced with Twin Cities Public Television
  • 2010: Outstanding Community Service Award from the University of Minnesota
  • 2009: Social Action Award from the Midwest Sociological Society
  • 2007: Minnesota Association of Fundraising Professionals Award

 

(2006- March 2026)

  • Held 980 events reaching more than 82,000
  • Produced 378 newsletters reaching 215,230 people
  • Displayed 59 exhibitions reaching thousands of people
  • Published 114 op-eds reaching hundreds of thousands of people
  • Delivered 15 testimonies at state and Congressional hearings
  • Signed 157 national and international human rights initiatives
  • Co-sponsored 7 Congressional briefings
  • Hosted 6.7 million visits to our website
  • Attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
  • Attended the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024

Programs have been held in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Wyoming, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin, and in Bosnia, Canada, Cyprus, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

 

We engage law students, lawyers, and the public to support human rights.

  • Webinars on human rights topics with continuing education credits for lawyers, educators, social workers, and nurses
  • Programs for law students and undergraduates including courses, fellowships, and internships
  • 9 ‘Upstanders’ readers’ theatre plays, that feature short narratives about ‘upstanders,’ people who acted heroically during genocides, available to the public at no charge
  • Human Rights and Genocide Studies Certificate
  • ‘Genocide and Justice’ travelling exhibit, available to rent across the US
  • Resources – plays, films, recordings, books

 

Awards and Honors for Ellen J. Kennedy, Ph.D., Executive Director

  • 2024: FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
  • 2023: Distinguished Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University
  • 2023: Woman of Valor Award from Forward Global Women
  • 2023: Liberty Bell Award from Ramsey County Bar Association
  • 2022: ’50 Over 50′ from AARP Minnesota
  • 2021: Representative of World Without Genocide to the United Nations Department of Global Communication
  • 2019: Prominent Minnesotan from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
  • 2015: Human Rights Award from the United Nations Office of Church Women United
  • 2014: Woman of Achievement from DKG, an international women educators’ society
  • 2012-2013: Rotarian of the Year from Minneapolis University Rotary Club
  • 2012: Nominee, Outstanding Adjunct Faculty from William Mitchell College of Law
  • 2010: Change-Maker from The Minnesota Women’s Press
  • 2010: Community Service Staff Award from the University of Minnesota
  • 2010: Jane Addams Outstanding Women’s Service Award from the Midwest Sociological Society
  • 2009: Outstanding Citizen Award from the Anne Frank Center, New York
  • 2007: Tom Oye Human Rights Award from the City of Edina, Minnesota
  • 2004: Higher Education Leader of the Year Award from the National Society for Experiential Education
  • 2006-2011: Fulbright Senior Specialist
  • 2002: Global Citizenship Award from the University of St. Thomas
  • 1987: Research Service Award from the University of St. Thomas

 

World Without Genocide envisions a future in which genocide and other mass atrocities, perpetrated against innocent people based solely on who they are, will disappear from the earth.

 

  • We believe that people care deeply about each other.
  • We believe that we must create opportunities for people to develop empathy for others and a social and political climate in which people will stand up to protect marginalized people everywhere.
  • We empower educational, faith, and community leaders to make genocide prevention an important goal at the local, state, national, and international levels.
  • We believe that we must end a culture that allows perpetrators of mass atrocities to act with impunity.
  • We believe in the importance of preserving the stories of individuals and cultures whose survival has been at risk.

 

World Without Genocide is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

World Without Genocide is formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications and is in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2022.

World Without Genocide is a member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, American Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and Minnesota Alliance for the International Criminal Court.

Download World Without Genocide’s non-discrimination policy here.

World Without Genocide formally changed its name from “Genocide Intervention Network – Minnesota (MNGIN)” in 2009. Name change certificate available here.

 

World Without Genocide is a 501(c)(3) organization, with tax-exempt nonprofit status granted by the IRS on June 10, 2009. To comply with IRS regulations for this status, the organization cannot be involved or intervene in political campaigns on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for political office.

 

We want to hear from you.

E-mail: info@worldwithoutgenocide.org
Phone: 651-695-7621
Mailing address: 7220 Cornelia Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55435