Genocide War Crimes Unit


August 28, 2012

The FBI is developing a more intensified approach to investigations involving mass atrocities and human rights violations.


Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI is developing a more intensified approach to investigations involving mass atrocities and human rights violations—including genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use of child soldiers. These types of terror destabilize the national security of the U.S.

Jeffrey K. VanNest: We have a real moral obligation to try to bring these types of things to an end.

Halpern: I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, and this is FBI, This Week. The Genocide War Crimes Unit identifies perpetrators, victims, and witnesses of atrocities in the U.S. and abroad. Jeffrey VanNest is the unit chief…

VanNest: We try to determine: Do we have any U.S. connectivity? And that’s where we then get engaged.

Halpern: The unit partners with its foreign counterparts as well as other federal law enforcement agencies such as DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations. The unit also works shoulder to shoulder with the State Department. In addition, we leverage our own legal attachés—the more than 60 FBI offices located across the globe.

VanNest: The key is really to do this together in a coordinated effort.

Halpern: For more information, visit www.fbi.gov.

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