Marking 75 years since its adoption, the Genocide Convention has played an important role in the development of international criminal law. Filmstrips by U.N. (1949) convey the journey to the genocide treaty.
Photo:UN Photo

A Living Force in World Society: The Legacy of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Every 9 December, the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide marks the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – a crucial global commitment that was made at the founding of the United Nations, immediately preceding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/323 of 29 September 2015, that day also became the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

At its landmark 75th anniversary this year, the Genocide Convention remains highly relevant. The 1948 Genocide Convention codified for the first time the crime of genocide in international law. Its preamble recognizes that “at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity” and that international cooperation is required to “liberate humankind from such an odious scourge”. To date, 153 States have ratified the Convention. Achieving universal ratification of the Convention, as well as ensuring its full implementation, remain essential for effectively advancing genocide prevention. The Genocide Convention includes the obligation not only to punish the crime of genocide but, crucially, to prevent it. In the 75 years since its adoption, the Genocide Convention has played an important role in the development of international criminal law, in holding perpetrators of this crime accountable, galvanizing prevention efforts, and in giving a voice to the victims of genocide.

This year’s event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Genocide Convention will focus on the theme of “A Living Force in World Society: The Legacy of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” . It will seek to highlight some of the achievements that emanate from the Convention, showcasing its legacy and reminding of the efforts which led to its drafting and adoption. The event will also reflect on the challenges that remain for its effective implementation. Genocide is still a threat in the world today. Around the world, populations remain at risk of this crime. The need to invest in prevention as envisaged by the Convention drafters 75 years ago remains as relevant as ever. The event, therefore, will also seek to showcase the work of champions of prevention and their tireless efforts to protect populations from the scourge of genocide. 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 9 December event, as well as an info-campaign from the UN archives, which seek to explore in detail the impact of the Convention in the fields of accountability, protection and prevention.

2023 Event

8 December 2023
11:00am – 1:00pm EST

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. Please RSVP to participate. See the concept note and watch the event on UN WebTV.

The International Day

By its resolution 69/323 of 29 September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly established 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. 9 December 2022 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 74th 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. Every year the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect organizes events to mark this International Day, honoring the victims of genocide and the anniversary of the Convention.

The Genocide Convention

The Genocide Convention (article 2) 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 … ", including:

  • 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 Convention confirms that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or war, is a crime under international law which parties to the Convention undertake “to prevent and to punish” (article 1). The primary responsibility to prevent and stop genocide lies with the State.

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. 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.

Exhibition: Stories of Survival and Remembrance

A call to action for genocide prevention

The objects in this exhibition reflect the lives of their one-time owners and the impact of war, trauma, displacement and exile on these lives. The objects survived the Holocaust, genocide and other atrocity crimes in Cambodia, Srebrenica and Rwanda.

View the exhibit
A child's dress is photgraphed. There are writing around it and flowers.

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.

The Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect

The Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and on the Responsibility to Protect work together to advance national and international efforts to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, including their incitement. One of their main tasks is to collect information on situations where there may be a risk of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, based on the risk factors outlined in the Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes. Due to the sensitive nature of their mandate, much of the Office’s work remains outside of the public eye. However, when the Special Advisers assess that making their concerns public will reduce the risk of atrocity crimes in a specific situation, they do so by issuing public statements and, upon request, by briefing the Security Council.

António Guterres

Ultimately, preventing genocide involves all of society. It is crucial that we all join hands to defend the principles of equality and human dignity and to repair the fissures and polarization that are so prevalent in our societies today."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Remember the victims. Prevent genocide.

Click on the image to download it. Please follow the usage guidelines.

Resources

Documents

Other resources

Watch

75 years of the Genocide convention

 

Young People Say Never Again

 

Remember the Victims - Prevent Genocide

 

When words kill

Read

We must counter hate speech if we want to prevent future genocides – an interview with Alice Wairimu Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, by Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau

portraits of Alice Wairimu Nderitu and George Okoth-Obbo

Alice Wairimu Nderitu of Kenya was appointed as Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide on 10 November 2020. George William Okoth-Obbo of Uganda was appointed as Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect on 6 December 2021. The mandates of the two Special Advisers are distinct but complementary. 

 

One of the many children in the audience during the screening of a documentary film on the repatriation of former combatants to Rwanda.

The Outreach Programme on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the United Nations focuses on preventing genocide by learning the lessons of the genocide in order to help prevent similar acts in the future, and supporting survivors, by raising awareness of the lasting impact of the genocide, particularly on widows, orphans and victims of sexual violence, and the challenges that they still face today.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.