The International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide is observed on December 9. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to commemorate the victims of genocide and promote awareness about the need to prevent such crimes.
In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This convention defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”:
-Killing members of the group; -Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; -Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; -Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; -Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
The International Day for Commemoration and Dignity of Victims of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity is observed on December 9th every year. This day was established by resolution 60/7 from 2005 which also called upon member states “to develop educational programmes that will inculcate into future generations universal respect for and knowledge about all human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to help prevent future genocides.”
The Armenian Genocide is one exampleof genocide that many people are not awareof.
It began in 1915 when Ottoman officials orderedthe arrestand deportationof Armenian intellectuals livingin Constantinople. These deportationssoon spread throughoutthe Ottoman Empireand Armenianswere rounded upand forced into campsor massacred.It is estimatedthat 1.5 millionArmenianswere killed duringthis time period. The Turkish governmentstill deniesthat this was a genocideand has not officiallyrecognizedit as such.
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide
International Genocide Day
Today is International Genocide Day, a day to remember the victims of some of the worst crimes against humanity. This day also highlights the importance of prevention and education about these terrible events.
The word “genocide” was coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer who fled the Nazis.
It is derived from the Greek root “genos” (race or tribe) and the Latin suffix “cide” (killing). The United Nations defines genocide as “any of a number of acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”
Some of the most well-known genocides include the Holocaust (the Nazi mass murder of six million Jews), the Armenian Genocide (the Ottoman Empire’s killing of 1.5 million Armenians), and the Rwandan Genocide (the Hutu massacre of 800,000 Tutsis).
While each genocide is unique, they all have one thing in common: they were preventable. In many cases, there were warning signs that were ignored or downplayed by those in power. And even when people knew what was happening, they did not take action to stop it.
This year marks 25 years since the Rwandan Genocide. On April 6th 1994, Rwanda’s President Juvénal Habyarimana was killed when his plane was shot down over Kigali airport. This event sparked 100 days of violence during which an estimated 800,000 people were killed – mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus who tried to protect them.
The international community stood by and did nothing while this atrocity unfolded before their eyes.
In recent years there has been some progress made towards ending impunity for those responsible for genocide and other mass atrocities. In 1998, leaders from around the world came together to sign the Rome Statute which created the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is a court of last resort for cases where national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Un Genocide Convention
The United Nations Genocide Convention is a legally binding international agreement that defines the crime of genocide. The treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and came into effect in 1951. It has been ratified by more than 140 countries.
The term “genocide” was coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer who fled Europe during World War II. Lemkin defined genocide as “the destruction of a nation or an ethnic group.” He believed that the best way to prevent such atrocities from happening again was to codify them into international law.
The Genocide Convention sets out three specific acts that constitute genocide: Killing members of a group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group; Deliberately inflicting conditions on a group designed to bring about its physical destruction (including through starvation or disease).
The convention also stipulates that any of these acts, when committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, are crimes against humanity and should be prosecuted as such. This intention can be proven even if the perpetrator did not succeed in exterminating the entire group.
Genocide Remembrance Day Ab 1801
The Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is held on April 24th to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The genocide was carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, during which 1.5 million Armenians were killed. The genocide was recognized by the United Nations in 1985 and has been commemorated annually since then.
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the start of the genocide.
On this day, we remember all those who lost their lives in one of the worst atrocities in history. We stand in solidarity with all survivors and their families, and we reaffirm our commitment to never forget or deny this dark chapter in human history.
We also recommit ourselves to working for a future where such crimes are unthinkable.
The Un International Day of Remembrance And Dignity for All Victims of Genocide And Atrocity Crimes
It is with great sadness that we commemorate the UN International Day of Remembrance and Dignity for all Victims of Genocide and Atrocity Crimes. This day serves as a reminder of the horrific atrocities that have been committed throughout history, in the name of hatred and intolerance.
We remember the millions of innocent people who have been murdered simply because of their race, ethnicity, religion or beliefs.
We stand in solidarity with the survivors of these crimes, and pledge to never forget what has happened. We must also do everything in our power to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
This day is also a time to reflect on our own responsibility to speak out against bigotry and hate.
We must work together to create a world where everyone is respected and treated with dignity. Only then can we truly say that we have learned from the past and are committed to creating a better future for all.
What is the Genocide Day?
The genocide day is the anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, which began on April 24, 1915. On this day, Armenians around the world remember and honor the victims of this tragedy. The genocide was conducted by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population and resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenians.
What is the Convention on the Crime of Genocide?
The Convention on the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1948. The convention defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
The Convention also outlines that genocide is a crime under international law and that parties to the convention are obligated to prevent and punish those who commit genocide.
The Convention is widely considered one of the most important pieces of human rights legislation.
What is Genocide in International Law?
In international law, genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. This crime is often perpetrated during times of war or civil unrest, when the targeted group is especially vulnerable.
The 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”:
Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting conditions on the group that are calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
This definition has been widely accepted by international legal scholars and courts. In order for a crime to be classified as genocide under international law, it must meet all five of these criteria.
The most famous example of genocide in recent history is the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany systematically murdered six million Jews during World War II. Other examples include the Armenian Genocide (in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turkey between 1915 and 1923) and the Rwandan Genocide (in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutus in 1994).
Did the Us Ratify the Genocide Convention?
Yes, the United States of America ratified the Genocide Convention on December 9, 1948. The Convention entered into force on January 12, 1951.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the International Day of Commemoration And Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide is an important day to remember those who have lost their lives to genocide and to pledge to prevent future genocides from occurring.
