EVENT: On Friday, December 9th, from 11:00 to 10:00 PM (EST) at the United Nations Trusteeship Chamber UNHQ, We will mark the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime 2024, as well as the 76th anniversary of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”), the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly. The high-level event will be held in person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. It will also be live webcasted on UNTV. It will include opening remarks, followed by a panel discussion and statements from regional groups of Member States. The event is open to Member States, UN staff, civil society, media and the public. The event will build upon a series of expert consultations and meetings convened by the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide in the lead up to the December 9th event, as well as an info-campaign from the United Nations archives, which seek to explore in detail the impact of the Convention in the fields of accountability, protection and prevention. The Global event will feature opening remarks by United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, followed by an interactive dialogue; Remarks will also be made by member states, representing regional groups. This year’s event takes place in between two landmark commemorations. In April 2024, Rwanda marked 30 years since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. In July 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina will mark 30 years since the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. Thus, the event will be dedicated to the role of commemoration and memorialization efforts not only to honor the victims and survivors of genocide, but also as effective mechanisms for the prevention of future genocides. It will focus on the experiences of Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore the ways in which commemoration and memory of past genocides serve as an essential component of prevention. See the official invitation, register to participate and watch the event on UN WebTV.
STATEMENT: Read the Statement of United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide & the Prevention of this Crime 2024; December 9th.
Today marks the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Adopted in the wake of the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, the Convention is a pledge to the victims and survivors of genocide to ensure that these atrocities never occur again.
Tragically, in a world plagued by division, mistrust and violence, the dark spectre of genocide is still with us.
In the name of the victims and survivors of genocide, all governments must ratify and fully implement the Convention, holding perpetrators to account.
We must strengthen the tools of prevention, including education and countering mis- and disinformation that can fuel hate speech and genocidal intent and action.
We must respect and implement decisions of the International Court of Justice on the application of the Convention.
And we must do everything possible to identify early warning signs and sound the alarm.
The best way to honour the victims and survivors of genocide is to ramp up action to prevent this atrocious crime.
LIVESTREAM: Watch the commemoration!
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