UK lacks strategy, leadership and accountability mechanisms to prevent atrocities, major independent review finds
London, 13 October 2026 – The Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes has today published The Atrocity Crimes Review: A Comprehensive UK Strategy for Atrocity Prediction, Prevention and Response, a major independent assessment of the United Kingdom’s ability to identify, prevent and respond to core international crimes such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression.
The Review concludes that the UK's approach to atrocity prevention remains fragmented and reactive. It finds that there is no coherent framework to ensure that early warnings of atrocity crimes are translated into timely action, no comprehensive national strategy, no dedicated ministerial lead, and no clearly identified budget. These findings apply to the policies of successive governments.
The Review warns that atrocities are not only a moral and legal concern, but also directly affect the UK's national security, economic interests, migration pressures and the international rule of law. It stresses that preventing atrocities is significantly less costly and more effective than responding after crimes have already occurred.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and member of the Standing Group, commented:
"Atrocity crimes are not inevitable. They are often preceded by warning signs that democratic states choose either to act on or to ignore. Britain helped build the post-war legal order; now it should lead in defending it by making atrocity prevention a national interest and a defence priority. If the UK leads, others will follow — saving lives abroad while strengthening security and stability at home."
Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Chair of the Standing Group, said:
"Despite many past efforts, the UK currently lacks a cohesive atrocity prevention and response strategy. With changing foreign policy priorities globally, however, the UK is in a prime position to take on greater leadership internationally on this issue."
The Review was informed by evidence from leading international experts and civil society organisations in parliamentary hearings and sets out a practical roadmap for strengthening the UK's ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to atrocity crimes.
The publication comes at a time of growing global instability, with the world facing the highest number of active armed conflicts since 1946 and people in half the world’s countries reporting that they have experienced atrocities in the past year — underscoring the urgency of more effective national and international approaches to atrocity prevention. Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown CH PC, joining the efforts of the Standing Group, said: “Let us give meaning again to ‘Never Again’ by making it not a lament after failure, but a discipline of government before catastrophe.”
The Standing Group calls on the UK Government to respond to the Review’s recommendations and set out how it will strengthen atrocity prediction, prevention and response across Government.
The Standing Group comprises leading global voices on atrocity crimes dedicated to strengthening the UK Government’s approach to atrocity prediction, prevention and response through practical legislative and policy reform.
The Atrocity Crimes Review, a summary briefing, and the keynote address by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown are available here:
The Review was launched at a reception held by The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, with keynote remarks from Baroness Kennedy LT KC, Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown and Prof. Philippe Sands KC. Speakers included, alphabetically by surname: Aarif Abraham, Lord Alton KCSG, Prof. Christine Chinkin, Alistair Fernie, Richard Foord MP, Andrew Gilmour CMG, Will Hines, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Dr Ewelina Ochab and Rt. Hon. Baroness Prentis KC.
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