The voices of youth for a peaceful and inclusive world
9 December 2021 marks the
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of
Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, as well as the 73rd 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 Convention signifies the
international community’s commitment to “never again” and provides the first
international legal definition of “genocide,” widely adopted at national and
international levels.
It also establishes a duty for State Parties to prevent and punish the crime
of genocide.
☺2021 Virtual Event
9 December 2021, 11:00am – 1:00pm EST
The event will feature opening remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres, Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the General
Assembly and Ms. Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide,
followed by an interactive dialogue moderated by Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake,
United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Youth. Remarks will also be
made by member states, representing regional groups. See the full programme and RSVP by Monday, 6 December 2021.
Prevention of Genocide
To prevent genocide and
genocidal conflicts, it is critically important to understand their root
causes. While conflict has many causes, genocidal conflict is identity-based.
Genocide and related atrocities tend to occur in societies with diverse
national, racial, ethnic or religious groups that are locked in
identity-related conflicts.
#WEALTH
It is not simply
differences in identity, whether real or perceived, that generate conflict, but
the implication of those differences in terms of access to power and wealth,
services and resources, employment, development opportunities, citizenship and
the enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms. These conflicts are fomented
by discrimination, hate speech inciting violence and other violations of human
rights.
#PEACE
In terms of prevention,
the critical step is to identify the factors (discriminatory practices) in a
given situation that lead to or account for acute disparities in the treatment
of a diverse population, and to seek ways to diminish and eventually eradicate
these possible causes of genocidal violence. Given that no country is perfectly
homogeneous, genocide is a truly global challenge.
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This is an excellent post. Thank you for all you do. The ideology of genocide must be stamped out from its very roots.
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