The Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) is recognized internationally as Canada’s leading research and advocacy institute for the prevention of genocide, mass atrocity crimes and violent extremism. MIGS conducts in-depth research and proposes concrete policy recommendations to resolve conflicts before they degenerate into mass atrocity crimes. MIGS has achieved national and international recognition for its role as an idea and leadership incubator working with policymakers, academics, leading research institutions, and the media. Today, MIGS is Canada’s leading voice and international partner on threats to human security.

MIGS is currently working on CVE (Countering Violent Extremism). The DMAPLab is a policy hub working to combat genocidal ideologies online and work as a counter force against extremists and their ideas. Our work has been presented at the Global Media Forum in Germany and at the UNESCO conference ""Internet and Radicalization of Youth: Preventing, Acting and Living Together"

Mission

• Develop major research programs focusing on the prevention and punishment of genocide and other mass atrocity crimes.

• Collect and disseminate research results to specialist professionals and to the wider public.

• Create and advocate for innovative public policies to prevent future mass atrocities.

• Educate students, academics, journalists, government officials, civil society groups, and the wider public on threats to the national interest arising from genocide and mass atrocity crimes.

• Provide  professional training and build mass atrocity awareness and prevention capacity of international and national leaders in key fields

• Develop and foster fruitful relationships and networks at the local, national and international levels by working in collaboration with leading organisations, institutions and research institutes.

MIGS was founded in 1986 by Dr Frank Chalk (History) and the late Dr Kurt Jonassohn (Sociology/Anthropology) . In recent years, Concordia faculty members and graduate students from Communications, English, Geography, and Political Science have joined in its work, as have colleagues from McGill and the University of Quebec in Montreal.

MIGS is a research centre of the Faculty of Arts and Science of Concordia University and exists autonomously from the university's departments.

Our supporters

MIGS gratefully acknowledges the support of:

• Concordia University
• James Stanford
• The Simons Foundation
• The Dym Family Foundation
• Bram Steinberg
• The Tauben Foundation
• Annie Tobias
• The Nexus Fund
• The Swedish Institute