Author, Speaker, Founder, & Humanitarian
Field-Based Author and Lecturer on Civilian Protection and International Humanitarian Law
For more than fifteen years, Lara Kajs has worked at the intersection of field reporting, civilian protection advocacy, and international humanitarian law. Drawing from direct engagement in conflict-affected regions and sustained work within global human rights networks, her writing and lectures examine the legal, political, and human dimensions of atrocity crimes and displacement.
Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, a Washington, DC-based educational nonprofit (501(c)(3), dedicated to advancing atrocity prevention, civilian protection literacy, and engagement with international legal frameworks. Through research-informed analysis and public education initiatives, the organization connects field realities with academic, policy, and institutional audiences. Drawing on her work with international institutions, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, Kajs focuses on atrocity crimes, forced displacement, civilian protection, and the application of international humanitarian law in practice.
She is the author of Assad’s Syria and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, works grounded in on-the-ground observation, survivor testimony, and legal analysis. Her speaking engagements span universities, policy forums, and international audiences seeking a deeper understanding of the mechanisms — and prevention — of mass atrocities.
Her work is informed by a longstanding commitment to global human rights advocacy, first sparked as a student member of Amnesty International in 1999 and sustained through continued engagement with the international humanitarian community.
Speaking & Public Engagement
Lara Kajs has delivered more than 300 lectures, workshops, and breakout sessions addressing atrocity crimes, forced displacement, state violence, and the application of international humanitarian and international human rights law. Her presentations examine patterns of impunity, the selective enforcement of legal norms, and the structural conditions that allow civilian harm to persist in conflict settings.
Her work emphasizes accountability without exception — including when strategic partners or allied states commit violations — and underscores the importance of consistent legal standards in preventing future atrocities. Through analysis grounded in field experience, Kajs explores the practical implications of international law for civilian protection, displacement policy, and long-term stability.
Beyond the Field
Kajs holds graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Lincoln Memorial University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She received a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Hawaii Manoa. She is a member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the International Network of Genocide Scholars, and the American Historical Association.
Kajs was born in Birmingham, Alabama, is a passionate Crimson Tide fan, a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and an ardent lover of music – one rock band in particular. She has traveled extensively, visiting more than 140 countries and living in seven, experiences that continue to inform both her fieldwork and writing. She resides in Washington, DC.
For speaking engagements, academic collaborations, media inquiries, or book events, please visit the Contact page.