A/HRC/10/30 page 5 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 7/25, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to report on the efforts of the United Nations system to prevent genocide and on the activities of the Special Adviser. It follows an initial report submitted to the Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/2006/84) and a subsequent report to the Council (A/HRC/7/37). II. STRENGTHENING THE PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE A. Determining the risk of genocide: framework of analysis 2. Determining whether there may be a risk of genocide early enough to allow for prevention has proved to be one of the most challenging tasks confronting the United Nations. While some aspects of the problem involve the political responses of States Members of the United Nations,1 others involve the information collection, analysis and early warning function for which the mandate of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide was specifically created. Building upon the work of his predecessor, the human rights field experience of United Nations staff and studies by the community of genocide scholars, the office of the Special Adviser has developed a framework of analysis to help identify situations that may lead to genocide. The framework can be understood as asking analysts to consider eight core questions organized in roughly chronological order (in accordance with the increasing imminence of genocide), as well as in an order of the likely availability and clarity of information (initial questions will be easier to answer). 3. Question one asks whether there is a national, ethnic, racial or religious group(s) as such a prerequisite for genocide to be possible - and then asks whether the group or groups are vulnerable to genocide and, if so, why. 4. Question two asks whether there are past or ongoing discriminations and/or other human rights violations against the group. An accurate understanding of a population group’s past and present human rights situation is useful in determining the risk faced by a group and its current situation. It also points to the kinds of structural human rights reforms that need to be undertaken to reduce the risk of genocide. 5. Question three considers circumstances that negatively affect domestic capacity to prevent genocide. Analysis requires consideration of what structural and institutional frameworks exist in the country - including domestic legislation, an independent judiciary and an effective police force - to protect people from genocide, and the extent to which domestic capacity is specifically protecting vulnerable groups. Analysis would also take into consideration factors such as illiteracy or geographic isolation that make it difficult for a vulnerable population group to benefit from a domestic protection capacity. Addressing these weaknesses through measures to address impunity and strengthen the judiciary and law enforcement are essential to the prevention of genocide. 1 See S/1999/1257.